Richland beacon., 1874-12-12
JOHN W. AZ
THE INJUSTICE hoGRArHERS HA' +
DOM. 70 TIE FATHER
OF METIIODISM.

originated has spread Throughout the world.
and from the poorest and humbest surround
ings has grown 10 vast wealth and Influence,
and Ia. day Methudsm numbers It's adherents
by hun freds of thousands, and the tall spires
of its churches and school. greet the eye in
almost every city and village in America,
while its numbers and strength in the Old
World such a to command consideration
rnl respect from Us former bitter assailants
ani despisers Coui the old crusader against
the pride and folly and wickedness of an
hundred and fifty years ago, be permitted to
come again in the flesh aud behold tHc grand
results of the mission work he began IN the
wilds of GcorIa, he would doubtless be hi'ri
Z with surprise and rapture somewhat akin To
that experienced by II. john aitcr hc had
availed himself OF free press and sazed up .
on the wonderful glorics Of the New JerI'a- .
lem. Without asserting or ohJcctug To pecn- .
liar faith aud teachings "f tins sect II Will be .
admitted rlia, history, in lis record Of the dil- ,
frrent religions crecls and systems, chronicles /
. no ,.srallcl that will conra,, 10 the "rganiza-
ZION growth, and ACHIEVEMENTS Of the Mc'ho- !
dist Episcopal church. And yet, even while /
the great apostle was struggling 10 nurture .
and prr.erve the feeble life of his new d0r- .
,rIpc in is infancy. he encountered trials aud
tribulati1nS other ,han those arising IN Hls .
spiritual field Of labor. While sweating an
der the burden OF the cross that bore tie le-
genls of holiness, purity, and charliy' ana
CRYING aloud to fallen men and women 70
turn from tleir wickcdncss aud be saved, he
was N the same time the unhapplcst O; men.
Misery aud despair were IN In sou' anguish
and rrmor>- followed him through the long
d,ys. aud til. dreary night, brought Inn no
rest Su.n. auh striving with hoiy icrvrncy
10 do the work or his Master with clean
l.
hi, uilts and energies in the grand resolve -
,ui!G up a tabernacle ot the Lord IN which
mankind could learn the way 10 eternal hap
,iurss and peace, hr was bc-et IN ms pam
bv temptations which. when not resisted,
have ;heir inevitable sequence IN misery and
torment, HIS was like the experience OF 9TH
er men in similar positions. Ii IS the same
story oftcmpia,iou>. weakness and suffering
Yet. unlike many other men, II seems Johh
Wesley did not 90 TO RUN IN Consequence "i ms
sin, and indiscrclioJ>; nor does II appear Ihal
the subsequent prospects or final success OF
his chur.lI were seriously impaired by his ac-
tioI s.
Abraham Lincoln uttered a welknown truth
,.hep lac remarked To his fii,nd IicrndOn. that
few bio.raplIrrs gave the real facts IN great
,n,u's I,i, tlat the writer thereof Is too apt
,umake a panegvric instead of a history, pre-
scn,ng aud dwelling upon all the good deeds
performed by his hero. ana CLOSING over or
sccrcting his fOibles and weaker characters
tics So il has been with the blographers o.
John Wesley. with perhaps one eXcepuon'-a
,norr recent If. written by Tyernan. Not
one tells the true story If his relations with
tie several women who became connected
with his life, and who beyond douot, cast a
balcfil shadow upon lis career.
I'm early life, Wesley formed a resolution "f
- E,.,,r roe
.houId b,. one of self denial labor and home
Icssness. He published an essay en'iled
,sThouuh,s on a Single Life. cX'oilnG that
state as the privilege, if not the duty, Of al
win. were capable of receiving it. and three
years after, in a public hymn, winch l. clearly
autobingraphical, expressed hIn~ciias follows
Il have no sharcr Of my heart
To rob my Savior of part,
And desecrate the whole;
Only betrothed TO Christ am /.
AMI wait His coming from the ky
To wed my happy soul"
Du, j, seems hr did not long persist in th
resolve During lis ministry ia Georgia h'
formed a "dcep attachment 10 a Miss Sopm'
Hopkcy, niece of the chrh mays rat Ct th'
roo,v' Tin, earlier biographies of Wcslcl
represent the affair involving conspiracy o.
,b,. oart of the young lady and her friend
f,i ascctic. Things grew To such state th'
his friends iutcr;,nsed; Wesley showed stns
I,,unass In, consented 20 an Investigation b
, conference. composed of his NoTavia
friends and advisers, who decided that /
should abandon the woman, wthot even cei
suring him for his conduit few mol,l
after. Miss llcpkey was married to a VI
Williamson Being deyout member oi I'll
rburch she presented herseif at the Lord 5 I
HE when Wesley publicly refused to adml'
lister TO her the sacrament The grounds
his refusal bave never been involved in muC
douLt though the consequence. OF his behd'
ior drew upon him suca odInm and per,ec
ton that he was finally compelled 10 sha'
the dust of Georgia from his ieet, ana seek
newer field. r,
No, Iorg after this occurrence, his frien
,,J ,h,, he was engaged 10 II Mrs. Ora
Murray a voung widow who had nnrsed hi
:; sior, illness and who was actually
r,mpauying him in his mini>erIai traN'
,hrongh the country. THIS young wom
had been brought up rs maid-servant: u
was person Of small education. ho"sh
rreat attraciion.aud IA fcrvent convert 10 we
odi.p From the accounts Of tins Affair."
,,o,,II SOON that she completely cnangi
Wesley in her net, and held h.m IN her C.
with great adroitness. Grace, though iair
look upOn, was internally Il great Ha"i. "a
she lived in this age of the world, uain
amid the gushing influences of moden IA
;onable society. she would no doubt In
proved brilliant representative giri of
perod. For a long time she kept esiey
der her influence. and the scandal assum
larger proportions, Charles Wesley brou
% The apostle. s,rove TO crush IT. lh'S
succeeded in doing, after exerting himself
months. and using considerable diploma
Johu Welded, and me, the lady TO say Ia
well. lie took her 10y tine hand, drr"
20 him, kissed her, and sad "6race VI
ray. you have brok,n my heart Hen
there they changed the relation they had
long borne TO each other, Tie preac
again took up the cross of se!t->ac ih'e,
wen, TO his WORK with sad heart, che"
the bitter cud of disappointment until
gave signs of greatly broken health y W
or Two after Grace was married to an iI
or sutor. She and Wesley did not u
ao,in for tIir,y-ninc years. She l"n- ga
81 bcr husband aud when IN lon'on
came To hear her son preach IN MoofiIriis
met her venerable ioyeT-iover suiL up
emily. f,r the interview l. described ns al
nr ucrrcf,rh they saw each 'tt'r
moe. and Wr>lry never ag"m r'cih "n"'
name. ThroI.n lnn. year i-'''~ iH""H"
Gr,.,, r.ltiuue q cu'Ir>c ~ thu t'"n "a
.es-. aud II, ej an I d:,t rI"4uer''E feSpe