The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-24
Valuable Works en MethOdism.

THE prNesT COLLECTION OF METHODIST LITE.
RArURE LxTANT PRESENTED TO DREW SEMI
NARY.
MADISON, n. j., June 2l.-A very valua-
bile library Of Methodist books has Just
reached the Drew Theological Seminary
from Esgiand. II consists OF the entire
collection of Methodist books gathered by
the Rev. DR.. George Osborn, author OF
autobiography OF Methodism," Of Rich
u'ond, near London. All the works relate
To the history OF Meihodism either directly
or remotely, and many Of them have long
been out OF The market, and are the only
COPIES existing. The cOpious catalogue
which accompanies the books contains
minute descriptions Of them. There
are twenty-five departments, some OF
which are as follows: Publications rela.
ting to The Wesley family, the collected
works OF John Wesley, separate publica-
lions Of John Wesley, never included in
his collected works; poetical publications
of John and Charles Wesley; musical
works, biographies Of John Wesley and
original letters, books relating 10 White
field, general histories OF Methodism, local
histories, biographies OF Methodism. SER
mons by Methodist clergymen from Wes-
ley's day to the present time, works rela-
ting TO Methodist missions, minutes OF Con-
ferenccs and works on Methodist law and
statistics, books relating to Morayianism,
the publications OF Wesley's clerical friends
and helpers, such as Fletcher, Coke, and
others; works relating TO other Methodist
bodies, and a large collection OF works
against Methodism. The collection OF
Pamphlets, both bound and separate, is very
large, ana the fruit Of careful cleaning in
the English and Continental markets. a
number OF works in the collection were
Wesley's private property. A beautiful folio
edition OF Cicero, in four volumes, published
in 1851, contains the earliest known auto
graph OF John Wesley on The title page OF
he second volume, bearing the date OF l72l.
A copy OF the fifth edition Of Wesley's
q" HYMNS and Sacred Poems," published In
London IN 1856, aboundS in corrections
ia the bsndwriting of Wesley. and strik-
ngiy illustrates lis character Tor accuracy
and critical skill. 4 Bible, containing the
Book of Common Prayer, and the Psalms
in Sernhod's and Hopkins's version,
dated London, 1910, contains john Wes-
ey's autograph, as follows: "N. B.-Thls
was DIR. Samuel AnnesIey's, my grand
father" The binding of this volume is OF
the handsoinest which the age could pro-
duce, being literally covered Win gnu
ing. now worn of, except little at
the back. There is manuscript copy
of the letters that passed between John
Wesley and John Smith (Thomas Seeker,
afierward Archbishop Of Canterbury in dis
guise). There is one volume OF Wesley's
4" Pocket Diary" written In his own short
hand, for part of the year 1740. From the
memoranda thus made 1t was his custom 10
write ont bis journal for publication. There
are number Of engravings curiously Illus
trative Of the early period OF Methodism.
Last of all. there is the cast OF John Yves.
ley's face, the only one taken after bis
death, and the only one in existence. The
collection was examined last summer at
Richmond by Bishop Hurst, and on his re-
turn to the United States Mr. Anderson
Fowler, of New York, entered into negO'
tiaions for IFS purchase as gift by him to
the Drew Theological Seminary. The
books arrived in good condition, and have
been placed in an antique case, and, by the
action of the trustees OF the Seminary, will
he called the Fowler Collection OF MethO-
dist Literature.