The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-02
FOUNDED A CHURCH.
Methodists Commemorate John
Wesley's Death.
HOW He REVIVED RELIGION.
Celebrations Of the Centennial Of The
Father of Methodism-Prsiss of
His Noble Life.

The Meth0d1St9 OF the city united yes
terday in fitting tribute to John Wesley,
the leader of the great religious revival Of
the eighteenth century. In the evening
. Wesley centennial celebration was held
at the Armory. Here fully 1000 people
were assembled, the floor and galleries
being filed. The meeting was presided
over by Rev. H. d. Brown and the services
were interpreted with the singing of Wes-
ley's hymns.
After the singing of an opening hymn
Rev. G. f. McReynolds of the Free Metho-
dist church, gave reading from scripture.
This was followed by prayer by Rev. W.
H. Drake, presiding elder of the Seattle
district
Rev. Levi Gilbert was introduced and
gave sketch of John Wesley. In the
course Of HIS address he said: ct will be q
sad day for the Congregationalistw when he
forgets the memory of the Pilgrim fathers,
when the Baptist no longer remembers
Roger Williams, when the Friend forgets
William Penn, when the Methodist ceases
TO do homage to John Wesley. The
greatest ecclesiastical reformer Of modern
times, he might have been one of the
greatest captains or legislators-a Napo-
leon or Bismarck.
"Great men do not belong to one country
nor to one period. So Wesley's is name
for all time, of all countries. for all peo-
pie. No country could bound the influence
of John Wesley. 1t went around the
globe.
ssJohn Wesley was born in Epworth, q
little village of 1900 people, in Lincoln
shire, in 1703, dying in 1791. All the 50
years of his life was marked by great ac-
tivity. On his fathers side was a long
line of gentry and clergymen. His mother
was of titled stock, one of the nobility,
and, even if not titled herself, her grandeur
of soul entitled her to be one of Gods
noble ladies. 1t was under such influences
that Wesley was schooled. No wonder
that from such home came such grand
character. He became at an early age
pupil at the Charterhouse in Lon:
don. Later he entered the historic
shades of Oxford. Here he became
noted as bright wit, scholar and poet.
Here he became curator of what was
variously nicknamed the Holy Club, the
Ritualists,' the Sacramentarians and the
Methodists.' Soon after he was made
fellow of Lincoln College, but the spirit
burned within him. He followed Ogle-
thorpe to Georgia and there preached to
the settlers and the Indians. Returning
soon to the Old World he began his revival
work, having to contend against great odds
in the forces Of libcrtinism, drunkenness
and the spread of atheism.
Although an eminent scholar Wesley
preached practical doctrines. He
aimed his sermons against the great
evils of the times. He preached
against slavery and intemperance.
no vVo nf
thought If alive today he would stand in
the front ranks of those of advanced
thought. John Wesley was a man of
prodigious labor. In early life he formed the
habit Of rising at O'clock, and of dividing
up the days labor into certain hours.
At the time Of his death he saw Method
ism with $4,000 communicates and 500
clcrgymen. What a rebuke to the laziness
and lethargy of many of us today! He
was great philanthropist. His charita-
bic labors were widespread. He went
through the streets of London doing good
TO the needy, while the little children fol-
lowed him to receive his blessing. Such
man has stamped himself indelibly upon
the face of all time"
Rev. T. B. Ford Of Olympia, delivered
an address on "Methodism and National
Life" He opened by speaking of the birth
Of Methodism, saying:
In one sense Methodism was born conceived
IN lle EpWOrtn TectOry, Drought forth IN the
University OF Oxford, baptized with the baptism
OF derision, received the indictment of power
when its heart was strangely warmed and
put on its beautiful garments of strength and
went forth clad in the habiliment OF q perfect
manhood in Christ Jesus-a building fifty
framed together, growing to a holy temple in the
Lord" in another sense Methodism is growth.
1t did not spring suddenly into fuilness OF stat
IRE. 1t was evolutional. 1t had its germinal
period-hrst the grain, then the .'biade, the
stalk, and the full corn at length" 1t had its
infancy, its swaddling bands. its childhood,
when it Thought as child, spake as child and
acted as a child, but it became man and put
all her votaries of every cline would put away
childish things" and become men, wise to plan
and strong ana courageous to execute.
Methodism was not content to be revived
movement in the Church of England. 1t was this,
and more. 1t was the opening of q new epoch in
the religious life and history not only of Great
the eighteenth century, whose vibrations have
been felt around the entire globe. But it was
destined to crystalize into distinctive life, to be-
come organic, and to be a separate ecclesiastical
jurisdiction with the best putting of the doc
trines of Christianity since the days OF the apos
ties, with genuine apostolic simplicity and the
pentecostal baptism of fire and power coming
up out of the wilderness of apostasy into which
the Lutheran reformation had iapsed. clear as
the sun in meridian splendor on acloudiess day,
terrible AS an army with banners relying up
on the strong arm OF her chief captain, 'sthe
Lord, mighty in battle" whose voice she heard
coming down from HIS throne of gem and gold
and sounding out in clarion notes divine above
the confusion Of tongues and the clash of dis
solving systems, go, unto all the world, and 10
j am with you!' And when Mr.. Wesley came to
close the volume OF his eventful life, and seal
the book, standing at the head OF the advancing
columns, ready TO depart, he passed the rap
turous acclaim down the line OF the
oncoming hosts of every land and
tongue. .the best of all. is God is with u.s."
and folded his arms and fell asleep in Jesus
sequiesedt in pace.
But Methodism was no more the product of
Wesley than Wesley was the product of Meth
odism. Each was equally indebted to the
other. Mr.. Wesley was wise enough to follow
the movement rs OF God and its reflex influence
was the power that lifted him to the throne
and he hreathed into ii his life, his profound
scholarship, his deep piety, his simplicity of
spirit, his singlenesS OF aim, his unselfish de-
Notion: as it grew, he grew the one was the
counterpart OF the other. and God gave the in
crease.
When the fullness of time came in the provi-
denee OF God, in the concurrent thought and
action OF Mr.. Wesley and his coadiutors in
America, the Methodist societies of the New
World were Blended into a harmonious whole
IN the organization OF the Methodist Episcopal
church in lisa.
The war cloud had passed away; the colonies
had wruRg from the mother country recogni-
ton as q free and independent nation, and the
ship OF state bad just been launched on new
and uGexpiored seas.
How fitting that the new church, SO well
adapted To the new conditions, should spring
into vigorous life 81 this time. II was no se-
eideni, IL could not have been ioreseeu by men.
the struggle for liberty. ana the first
TO address President Washington in
the spirit OF loyal friendship and devotion
ste recognized the fact that She was the King
dom of God or earth, with unity OF purpose
IN the establishment OF Christianity, in the re-
construction of humanity on spiritual basis
and that she mast keep herself free from all en-.