The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-11
The Centenary of Wesley's Death.
GENERAL OBSERVANCE OF THE DAY
BY METHoDISTS EVERYWHERE.

GENERAL OBSERVANCE OF THE DAY
BY METHoDISTS EVERYWHERE.
Monday, March .. is the Tooth ami
versary of the death of John Wesley
the illustrous founder of Methodism
and it will be observed by Methodist
throughout the world, but more especi'
ally by the Methodists of Great Brit
ain. Ordinarily the death of a great
man is not made the occasion of eel
ebration more or less joyous in its
character. But as Methodists look
back over the hundred years of their
history to the death of their great
founder, they see nothing to make
them feel sad. Wesley died after a
long and noble life. His work was
done and his deathbed was q glorious
triumph from the point of view OF the
Christian believer. Besides all this
the hundred years that have elapsed
since his death have effected for him q
canonization so glorious that his death
is swallowed up in victory. Ina sense
he is not dead, but living vital force
in the wonderful organization evolved
by his consecrated genius.
1t is quite unnecessary to speak at
any length Of Methodism. Even II its
royal Sous did not do that, as they
will, fully and effectively, it would
|speak for itself. 1t has been and IS
one of the greatest moral forces record
ed in history. And of its founder it is
not too much to say that he was one OF
the greatest religious leaders the world
has ever seen. Professor Huxley
who will certainly not be accused OF
any undue partiality for Christianity,
not long ago said of him: II believe
there was no man to whom England
is so much indebted for this great NOR
al reform (from the deadness OF the
eighteenth century, as to John Wes-
lev. AS we view him now, he stands
among his associates-Whitetie
Fletcher, Venn, Berridge, Romaine--
as Washington did among his generals
and Napoleon among his marshals-
facile princeps." Roman Catholics
and Protestants, Jews and Gentlless,
believers and unbelievers nave all
united in paying tribute to Wesley's
self-consecration, holiness, zeal, ana
genius for religious organization. ,
During his lifetime Wesley received
only scant recognition or even justice
from the Church of England, of which
he was a minister, and to which he re-
manned loyal ali his life. 1t cannot,
therefore, but be a source of gratifica-
ton to Methodists that through the
large-hearted charity of the late Dean
Stanley monument to the two Wes-
leys, John and Charles, stands IN
Westminster Abbey. And it will
doubtless be recalled by many that
when the Dean was ill this country III
1878 the Methodists of this city gave
him u reception in recognition OF his
gracious courtesy. In a speech OH
that occasion the Dean gave this eX-
planatton of how these monuments
came to he erected:
II was some eight or ten years ago
that the then president of the Wesley
an Conference asked, with that cour-
tesy and modesty which is character
istic of him, that I would allow the
erection of a monument iii Westmln-
ster Abbey, in Poets Corner, to
Charles Wesley, as the sweet psalmist
of our English Israel" ventured to
answer, IF we are to have monu-
ment to Charles, why not to John ?''
TO John Wesley, accordingly, togeth-
er with his brother Charles-not as eX-
cluding Charles, but as the greater ge-
MUS, as the greater spirit of the two
that monument has been erected.
John Wesley's monument, with the
likeness also of his brother Charles,
has been erected in Westminster Alb.
bey. close to monument which was
erected in the last century-and /
mention it only as showing that IN
welcoming this recognition OF your H.
lustrious founder, l have been but fol-
lowing the precedents already estab-
lished in Westminster Abbey and in
| the Church of England-the monu-
ment to John Wesley was erected side
| by side with the monument when III
| the last century was erected to the
memory of the great Congregational
divine and poet, Isaac Watts.
1t is not perhaps generally known
that there is an interesting and faith
| full portrait of John Wesley hanging
| in the Methodist Episcopal Mission
| Rooms, in this city. 1t was presented
by the Rev. DR.. o. H. Tiffany. "This
picture,n he says, lis copy of the
portrait of John Wesley which is in
the possession of the Wesleyan Mis-
sionary Society and hangs in their
rooms in London. The picture repre-
sents Mr. Wesley at his best, and with
great fidelity. In ls47 my father, Mr..
Comfort Tiffany, then a citizen OF Bal
timore, obtained permission to have a
COPY made for removal to the United
States. A copy was allowed to be
made by Mr. Gush, the conference ar
tist, which was pronounced by every
one who saw it to be entirely satisfac-
tory. NV father lived until March Is,
1879, and in his will left the portrait to
me, his eldest son. In 1889, the Mis-
sionary Society having built and pre-
pared suitable and permanent build
| ing, | presented the picture to it, to-
gether with portraits of the Rev. Ja-
beZ Buntinfi, taken from life by Mr..
Gush the Rev. John Newton, taken
by Wattles, in Baltimore, when DR..
Newton was in this country rs dele
gate to our General Conference. So
far as I know, there are no other
copies of this pictures in existence"
In response to an inquiry as to the
best method of observing the anniver'
sary on Monday, 1.-THE Christian Ad-
vocate" suggests that preachers devote
some Sunday in March to considera
ton of Wesley's life and labors, and
this suggestion, doubtless, will be gen
orally followed. In England, howev'
er, the celebration will be much more
formal, and will include the unveilinG
of a fine bronze statue of Wesley ir
the City Road, London.-New York
Tribune, February %, 1891.