The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-12-13
THE WESLEY ANNIVERSARY.

our exchanges are iul OF the ObSer.
vanceS last Sunday of the hOnors due the
founders Of MelhodiSm. The Presbvter.
ians ami Cungregnt oualI-ts, and Bay
fists AS well, united with The Methodist
in speaking OF the work of the two
brothers, especially "Cnarles Wesley
and his songs In B.nnIngt m, prai. G
service was held in the Second CJngre
IaiiOnal CUurcb, as is noted elsewhere
odly, and the pastor, the Rev. Charlrs
Il SrN IN ur, poke txiempOraneOusly
We give brief resume. as follows:
The name of Charles Wesley is over
-haduwed 10y that Of his elder brother,
phn, the founder of Methodism. But
the poet will not he forgotten, and the
songs he sung may yet ou,live the or.
ganlz ton whose regiIning he foster, d.
Admitting John to have been the
founder ui a strong sect, Charles pre-
coded him IN the initial movement. T.
was Charles VIII Gomplctei with a f w
others at Oxford TO hold Communion
once week. engage regularly in the
study of the Greek New Testament, and
cooperate IN stated works of charity and
mercy. The Citrate. John, returning
from Lincolnshire t. Oxford. jDined
himself to this group and became its
master spirit.
The conseCra'iIn of these men to a
most strict regimen of duty involving
great self denial, decided them on their
Georgian Mission, under AglethOrpe
But the diciplihe If the church was TOO
much for me "untutored savage" and
the end of thr, e years saw both brothers
back IA England. Their zeal for Evan
GelIsm, hos ever, WAS not ahaled. 1t
vas heightened rather, by their COM
mersion IN March, 1888
We mu take leave Of John, for cur
business Tonight is with the singer.
Charles. who may be said to have devot-
ed his life to writing sacred Songs. Ger
tain 1t was that his every experience as
an ltinerant preacher and minister sug-
ges'ed song. We can appreciate the
fact that he wrote 400 hymns. II we
included his trdnslatiuns of the Psalms
in 20 rythmIcil poetry, his;works rise to
the number If 1000 So prolific a
writer must often have fallen into medi
Dcrity; out OF this man, almost alone Of
human writ re-, 1t can he said that he
never dropped in chiIdishne.s. He was
never ridiculous. Watts, on the con
TT ry, often fell, The close of some of
his hymns that begin sublimely end in
doggefel.
The extreme activity and versatility
of Wesley's mind give endless variety to
his production, A mere incident OF
sight or sound. means to him poem
A passing Impulse or twInge Of feeling
becomes Of worth to "worshipping
world" He lights down among the
golfers OF Newcastle and begins:
See how great flame aspires,
hindled by spark Of grace
Jesus love the nations fires,
Lets the Kingdoms in blaze
The needy muliiuies gather about
him and his pencil il at work
Who are these that come from far,
Swifter than flying cloud'
Standing on the edge of a cliff OF
Lands End. he produced a song that
will outive hiss name
10, on a narrow neck of land,
Twixt two unbOnnded seas | stand
Secure, iusensible,
What surprises one is that IN the null
tiplIci'y of his writings, a noble dignity
is 80 well sustained. There is life and
vigor also in his aspirations and praises;
see, notably, in this:
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
Ny dear Redcemer's praise
While more frtq-ntly prayers and
praises aft ct ng'y iutermlngle.
After WeslHy's marriage his work was
chiefly confined to London. His was "a
familiar figure in the streets and lanes
Of the metropolis,
In old age he was accustomed to ride
on n Swede pony. and not mfr quently
would he he seen taking his pencil to
make a note; dismounting at some pub
lie house he would call for pen and ink
After all it is not strange that the world
is greatly indebted to Charles Wesley.
that mars Of his hymns have become as
househol words. He was giren to the
work. Such an unreseryed Offering
Col accepts, and makes of it living
gift to humanity.