, 1880-08-08

God metcs lis portions justly out, know;
N.Y. net st oats estorG fhat pa,c and rev,nr
shore; t=..:---:-*' ! - =
ENGLISH WEsLEYAN
SKETCH OF TIL: SECT AND ITS FOUNDER.
London Times July e.
The WesIeyans [who number a million OF
English communicates are holding their
yearly gathering, their census, their stock
taking, and what may be called their great
class meeting. They have yet to hold their
centenary. They began so modestly, and
they yielded so slowly and reluctantly to the
pressure within and without that ended iii
their present state of separation from the
Church, that it will not be easy to select the
chief date OF the last century to be COM
nemorated in this. Wesley executed the
Deed Of Declaration establishing the Con-
ference early i'll 1874, and himself died, after
hardly a days rest from his labors, in 1871.
For Years, both before and after these two
dates. whenever congregation chose to de-
cilre itsea virtually independent Of the
Church Of England, BY the assumption Of
church ordinances, it was allowed to have
its way. 1t is not, then, ecsy to say when
the community was fully formed. But
it Is impossible not to review one
ff the greatest creations Of the
eighteenth century by the light of results
which occupy respectable place even in the
bold and busy century now drawing towards
I'LL end. Time has not diminished the claims
of John Wesley to the admiration of his fol-
lowers, and i'll some respects it has added to
his claims in the eyes of the world at large.
Ail admit him to have been reformer Of
morals and Il reyivcr Of religion; but he also
:,:nticpatcd in :: very extraordinary manner
that reconstruction Of society which may be
called the chief characteristic Of the present
aye. It was Wesley who, after many years
nt patient waiting on the old University and
Church lines, formed the local end national
association for moral and religious purposes.
Religious combination, whether within local
limits, or Oh 4 scale to cover the world, was
the essence Of his movement, which: he hoped
against hope, and to the end Of his days,
would embrace all the faiths and all the
ton. He and a very small body Of like
minded lnen had been able to hold their
ground i'll Oxford for many years, increas-
ing, rather than decreasing, in the face Of
was just what lie hoped to see done. every
where; and he did not at all grudge the
impulse and strength which either the
Church or any other body of relI2ion1sts
might acquire fru him. 1t was enough for
him if for the greatest of works lie preached
uniull. conversation. and cooperation. Few
know what Il want there was of these helps
10 religious life i'll those days. All the old
lad fallen into discrcdit and disuse Moth
ill.,, remained but the customary freQuenters
Of the parish church. and here and there. in
the proportion Of about 3 per cent, Nom
rnnt0rlulst body OF wDrslipers; the parish
clergyman 4 long way above the heads of the
people, often absent, seldom quite present;
far above parish priests and people, Bishops
and dl:;ni,aries. There were a few Bibles
about put put they We're little read: for there
All rested complacently on the compre-
hensiyt. faith that every word had come
from Heaven What more was wanted?
The CHURCHES generally were more than con
tent with the psalmody of the Jews. Tile
tnoks IT devotion that have culne town from
the period are suggestive OF grave suspicio,,sa.
Nrre they ever meant to be used, or even
fea!; \ state Ut things that to some minds
could not but cause disqnietude had its con
sclatio.ls. and they were great Everybody
was let alone, and did what he liked. or did
nothing at all, if he liked that better When
the clergyman came to his parish nobody ex-
prtted i'm, to % his duty, or wished~it. A
one Or two exceptions, confined to rich or
dignifed subscribers, there were no societies,
no clergy lists, very few Post-Otlices, and q |
proEibltTy rate OF postage. Parliamentary
Themselves IL a yacht a weeks sail from q
Post-Oitlcc. That was virtually the case of |
most English villages early in the last |
century. as rule, people did nothing and !
were well helped to do nothing.
So the spirit Of the age went into other |
matters than either religious or moral iu-
and Wesley had tonlakea choice |
that could NOT fail to have its palms. Him |
self man of good figure, intellect, elo- !
qrence, and scholarship he might lave made |
I figure in the world OF letters, either as |
ayman or n Court Clergyman. He had been
N orders siyty-six. years when he died. and it
$ worth while to reflect upon some of the
eminent names contemporary with TINT long
'areer. They indicate everything uouyishing
'Nccpt the Church Of England. and most
hings fourishfng in that Church except l1er
ona! and social religion. They suggest that
n this period the zone thing nee8lful" was
he one thing dispensed with. Wesley had
. make his choice In the Augustan age,
Which found its religion in the MUSES. and
races, and whose dearest shrine was the
'enlple OF Fame. All that had hope went
'ise and great but with the working poor,
nd tie classes Immediately connected with
lem lie had to say, with the Apos-
rs and with the Founder OF his
;t;th, that his teachings found acceptance
18th the simple and unlearned. 1t was
new thing for these poor folks to have !
.ntlenan and 4 man Of learning speaking /
thei: very hearts aud con5cienccs and in '
ting their intimate association and help, as ! I
they were something, and were worth | a
mething. But not only the choice Of hear t
5, but the mission itself was fatal to n
erary arts and graces. Wesley was the e
neral Of an Order. lie commanded, Or e
nizpd discontinued enioincu. and forbade | e.