The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-05-21
METHODIST MECCA.
Pilgrims to Visit the birthplace Of
wesloyigm
AFTER The FOURTH OF JULY.
Hundreds of Mothodlsts viii Sail for
England and the Scenes Of tho Early
Days of tho ohurch...Thc Epworth
League Heading the Movement.
Cheap Passage.

New York, May 9O.-Not unlike pill
grims of old who iourneyed across
Europe and Asia to the tomb Of Christ,
an organized body OF American crusa-
ders will this year sail from New York
to the spot celebrated as the birthplace
Of the Methodist religion. 1t is known
as tho Epworth League. The name OF
Epworth is of peculiar significance to
the Methodist. It was there that Susan
nah Wcslcy, the youngest of twenty-four
children and the mother OF nineteen,
formed the first Epworth League. There
tho Wsaleys were born.
TO this historic spot, which is sacred
to The Methodists all the world over,
the pilgrims from America will voyage.
They will 90 on tho steamer Bothnia;
and it is thought that this great vessel
will not hold all who will want to join
the pilgrimage, and SO the City OF New
York will be also called into the service.
The idea of the European pilgrimage
originated in the mind OF the Rev. James
4. Docking, of Boston University, He
has for two years pushed forward the
founding of leagues in the cities of the
United States, and, in fact, in every
community where there is Methodist
church. He has met with much en-
enlargement. The leagues have sprung
up with marvellous rapidity. An ocean
voyage, with chance to see London,
hear her preachers, look upon her tenn
pies, the Houses Of Parliament, Vest
minister Abbey and, most OF all, Lp-
worth, has such promises that when
tho date of the voyage was determined
upon and the arrangements made hun
dreds OF applications flowed in.
DIR. Docking, just returned from the
National Convention OF the League ut
st, Louis, chattcd with n Continent re-
porter about the pilgrimage. He is n
young man who has u very genial face
for doctor OF divinity.
"It Is going to be tremendous sue
cess" said he. eve can hardly take
care OF the many applications for pas
sage that come in. The president OF
each league in the country, together
with some OF the members OF each, will
be Of the party.
at will be composed Of ladies and
gentlemen from all parts OF the United
States No such pilgrimage has ever
been attempted before. The party will
assemble in New York on July 7. They
will meet in the New Book Concern
rooms, and reception will be rendered
to them by the city clergymen. The
next morning, July s, the party will
sail out OF the harbor. They will be adj
dressed in London on their arrival by
noted divines, including General Booth
and O. II. Sturgeon.
Between London and Liverpool the
party will be addressed by Gladstone,
and given handshake with the grand
old man. The whole trip, lasting four
weeks, will cost but Sl2O. Those who
go to the Continent afterward will, Of
course, have to pay more"
As the presidents of nearly all the
Epworth leagues are ministers, the
majority of the members of the party
will be clergymen. DR., Docking will be
at the head Of the pilgrimage. Aspecial
committee in London will receive the
excursionists.