Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-03-09
wEsLEx,s LIFE AND WORK.

dist Churches.
Rev. DR.. Chapman of the First M. E. |
church intended to give an extended ad-
dress upon "The Philosophy of Methodism
and Its Influence Upon Civilization" yes
terday morning, but owing to unforeseen
he was forced to abandon his
intention, and instead read a paper upon
the life and work of John Wesley.
One hundred years ago, said he, John
Wesley died and departed upon his heav-
emily intinerary. He left $1,000 Mstho-
dists in England and America. Now, af-
ter a century, there are 6,000,0 900 Metho-
dists in the world. In one century we
have surpassed all that Christianity has
done for the world in the precedidg five
centuries. Methodism, in the eighteenth
century, was in fact the re-
naissance of Christianity. To Wesley,
it was given to feel the spirit of the
time. AS the Lutheran reformation was
greater than Luther, SO the Wesleyan re-
formation was greater than Wesley. Dur
ing the eighteenth century the moral and
intellectual life of England was the despair
of thoughtful men. 1t was cruel, brutal,
drunken time. But the reaction was pow
erful and complete. -
At that time the Church of England was
pulseless and torpid. The clergy was
equally as dead. Enthusiasm was every
where avoided in religion. The English
were practically nation of baptized deists:
But the time was ripe for explosion. 1t
needed but the right man, and France
evolved q Rohespierre and revolution of
blood and terror England evolved q
Wesley and religious reformation.
Samuel and Susanna Wesley, John Wes-
Iey's father and mother, were learned,
thinking people. They did more for their
son than all the learning he ever had, al
though in 1926 he was made fellow of
Lincoln college. He became the head of a
club of young men whose objects were
generally general culture, Bible knowledge,
Christian experience and Christian service,
and upon this broad basis Methodism be-
gan. Methodism was born in the summit
Of English scholarship. It was its rule to
make the sad world happier and the bad
rule better. "Get all you can, save all you
can, give all you can," was Wesleys
method to the last hour of his life.
Some years later John Wesley came to
the American state of Georgia, bat the
least said about Georgia the better. After
two years here Wesley sailed for England,
sadder and wiser man. He was then
thirty four years Of age.
Having at last a gospel to preach, Wesley
lost no time in preaching it. His gospel
pent and return to God. But the people
did not like this doctrine and the church
doors were closed against him. But Whit
ney took the same gospel and preached it
in the hamlets and fields. John and
Charles Wesley followed his example
Wesley utilized all common agencies and
did for the church what Napoleon was
soon to do for France-gave the tools to
whoever could handle them.
Two ideas buried unquenchably in his
heart: FIRST to save souls; and second, to
make souls worth saving. He tnrned the
the religious currents of the eighteenth
century into the channels of the nine
teenty.
This great master workman left the
world March 2, 1891, at the age of 88. His
brother died two years before. They had
carried England and America over the
bourne of the great reformation and the
work of maintaining their fabric was left
to younger hands.
| EVENING SERvICE-APPROPRIATE ExER-
c1sEs FOR JOHN WESLEY CoMMEMo-
RATION.
In the evening the service was particu-
| larly of Wesley character. Just after
| the quartette finished singing that beauti-
full hymn "Lead, Kindly Light" written
by John Henry Newman, the pastor made
few remarks suggested by the striking
divergence of the paths which mad beer
pursued by John Wesley and Newman
Both were identified with Christ college
Oxford, and each started his religious life
as high churchman, the one to become q
cardinal in the church of Rome, the Other
to become the founder of Methodism.
| Newman when he found his light, re-
| tired to the seclusion OF the cloister, but
Wesley went among men carrying the
light which he had found. We do not
want more members now, so much as
| quality. We want better type of Chris
tianity, better Methodism. This per.
sonal union with Christ, which is the cen.
trail truth of Methodism is what will make
the church strong.
MI. Welles of the Canadian conference,
| who is now studying in the seminary, gave
some interesting facts of what progress
Methodism had made in Canada.
| The introduction Of Methodism in Can
ada occurred in III, when Jesse Lee was
sent by the American conference into that
country and after year came, back and
reported membership of 1855. This early
| starting of the church 1ourished to such a
| degree that in 1928 they became independ-
| ent. In 1883 all the Methodist sects of
Canada united and became the Methodist
| Episcopal church of the dominion. Since
that period the life and growth of the de-
nomination has been of the most extraordi-
nary character. They have increased and
dourished in way almost unparalleled in
church history. 1t was practical effort
to meet the needs of practical life, which
and this has been tho polity. The right
of congregations to invite their pastors is
very fully granted The form Of church
government is thoroughly democratic-the
sovereign power resting with the clergy
man and laymen.
The preachers have exercised mighty
power in education throughout the Do
minion. Barring few years Methodisn
was the first church to found university
in Canada, and now has fourteen, one
being in Japan.
Her missionary zeal is unbounded, anc
the effects of this has been felt in nearly
every quarter of the world.
Mr.. Welles was followed by Mrs. G. E
Thompson, whose remarks on the women
Methodists were of no little interest.
Next Sunday evening Mr.. and Mrs. Hart
well will give missionary talks on Chins
in behalf of the Woman's Foreign Mission
AIRY association.
AT ST. JOHN STREET N. z. CHURCH-sER
MON BY REV. A. ". R. ABBOTs.
On account of sickness in the family O.
Rev. w. G. Brakeman of the st. John stree
church Rev. A. V. R. Abbott preached il
his stead yesterday morning. The subjec
of the sermon was the difference in people
The text, from Corinthians, vi, 7, was a
follows: "And there are Universities of op
erations, but it is the same God whicl
worketh all in ALL But the manifestation
of the spirit is given to every man to prof
withal."
The sermon embodied the following: Al
the words of God are words of wisdom an
omnipotent power.
! The question has been asked, if tn
, spirit of God works in all men, why
there such a diversity of resultss Why ar
not all men affected alike? Why is Their
such difference of opinion regardin,
theological questions? These question
sound like objections to divine influence
and as such they are absurd. There is N
disorder-no lack of harmony. There
much difference in temperament, in men
tai and physical conditions, and in tn
latter characteristics a man may not b
always alike. His religion may be sffecte
by his physical condition and yet he ma