Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-02
CHARLES WESLEY.
CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HuNDREprE
ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH.

CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HuNDREDrH
ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH.
TIE present year, which marks the ons-
hundredth anniversary of the death of
Charles Wesley, has been thought appro-
pirate for celebration throughout the
world. committee having the matter in
| charge has corresponded With ministers and
prominent laymen AL over this country and
England. 1t is proposed in all large cities
| to hold one central meeting on SUNDAY.
| December 9th. Every minister il request
ed to make the occasion the subject OF his
sermon on that day, and to hold a me-
mortal praise ssrvics in honor Of Charles
Wesley.
The author Of "Jesus, Lover OF NV
Soul" was the younger brother Of John
Wesley, and was born at Epworth. Lin
colnshire, Eng, on December 18, 170S. He
was graduate of Christ church, the uni-
vesity at Oxford, aud priest of the Church
of England. While at Oxford he waa one
Of the earnest yonng men known A. Meth
odists." He lived in Georgia dunng sew
eral years Of his ministry, and acted aa
secretary to the Governor of that colony.
Not long after his return to England he
associated himself with his brother In
what is known as the Methodist movement,
the object Of which was, in the words Of
John Wesley, ''to spread Scriptural holi-
ness throughout ths land" His services
in the work were extraordinary. He was
an eloquent preacher and the greatest Of
hymn writers. The composition Of sacred
verse was his daily habit He carried with
him everywhere supply of writing paper,
on which he wrote his effusions in short
hand, preserving this trough draft'' for
future treatment in his study. OF the
many thousands of hymns composed By
Charles Wesley, large number are of
consummate merit, and are sung through
out the English-speaking world aud in
translation everywhere where Christianity
is taught. They touch the heart while
they ind1ctrinate tina mind. AS the
emanations of a man whose life was sin gle
expression of glowing piety and charity,
they communicate the spirit of their
author. A proud skepticism melts into
alteration under the power of the verses
beginning "Jesus, lover of my SOUL" per-
haps the hymn most used of all in the
English language. Charles Wesley was Of
cheerful and lively disposition, of quick
senslbiiities, witty and fun-leying, with
talent for ridicule, which his severe prinoi-
pies could not always restrain. He was a
High Churchman throughout his life, and
deprecated with energy the threatened
separation of Methodism from the parent
Church. As a matter of course he on
posed his brothers. plan of starting what is
known as the Methodist Episcopal Church
in this country. There were times when
the relations of the brothers were strained
by differences of judgment. The "Church''
principles of John Wesley were violated
under the stress of expediency, and he was
inconsistent in his policy as the head of the
Methodist societios. Whether wrong or
right, on the other hard, Charles Wesley
never departed in mis- views from She strict
churchmanship in which lie was trained;
but it may be questioned whether his
practice al@ays cotresp ponded with his
theory. His miuistrations at City-Road
chapel, London, for example, where he
maintained Iigidly the view that only an
episcopally y-ordained clergyman ought to
have any part in the service of the Lords
Supper, we're irregular 10 the eyes of many
theoretically not more strict in
their churchmanship than be. The happy
tolls Of Charles Wesley ended in London,
in 1888 He was great man. Though
inferior to his brother in mental capacity,
attainmeBts, craftsmanship. and the ability
&c .hs lead99ss be be surpassed him as an orator
and poet The two men EoFess5-Tf, az the
head cf a movement which was the leading
feature of history in the eighteenth CEN
tury, rank high in the list of the worlds
great men. Charles is increasingly pre-
eminent as writer Of hymns. The re-
vival in the Church Of England of frcm
forty to hfty years ago STIMULATED the use
OF the Wesleyan poetry in worship and
private devotion,