The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-16
MRsLBY,s LIPn ANp WORK.
A Sermon BY Rev, Dr.. Cushing and sundA'
schOol Celebration.

WhSl6lb LIFE AMI NVhhs
A Sermon by Rev, DR.. Cushing and Sunday |
sehSol Celebration.
A week ago yesterday Rev. DR.. Cush.
ing preached in the Fourth Street
church q sermon appropriate to the
centenary OF the death Of John Wesley.
Yesterday he continued the same gem
eral subject in q discourse on 1.-THE Life
and Work Of John Wesley." In the first
sermon he followed the career Of Weeley
10 the session Of the first Conference,
the real launching Of the Methodist
church. Yesterday he spoke Of the
visit Of Charles Wesley to Cornwall, and
his arrest there for preaching. and his
release when 1t was discovered that he
was a goWned clergyman, one instance
where wearing q gown was Of advantage.
Charles returned via Oxford, and was IN
time 10 hear John preach his last ser
mon there. Persecution followed Wesley,
but friends were raised up, too.
In lT47 Methodism was introduced
into Ireland. II met with opposition,
but a revival OF Professionalism resulted:
Il has been said that 1t Is doubtful II
even the forms Of Professionalism would
hsxe existed in Ireland to-day but tor
the energy which the Wesleys infused
into the churches.
In Ireland It Is related that Catholics
went to break up meetings, and were IN;
terested and finally converted. One OF
these, Thomas Walsh, educated for the
priesthood, became foremost preacher:
August 10, 1900, Phillip Embury and
Barbara Heck landed In New York.
They organized the first Methods audi
euce, and the
F1Rsr METHODIST CLASS
| in America, it being composed Of five
persons besides Embury, at whose house
they met. Soon q rigging.loft was So
cured in which to preach. Then came
4 Capt. Webb in his uniform, and began
10 preach, The work spread rapidly.
Thomas Coke was ordained and sent
over as the first Bishop. He ordained
Asbury and they traysrsed the country
To-day there are in the United States
4, o9S, $40 Methodists, the moss numerous
Of ali churches. Over one.third OF al
Protestant church members are Metho
dists.
Bishop Coke was the founder Of Amer
lean missions. He crossed the Atlantic
eighteen times In this work, at his owr
expense, and the Methodist church sen
Livingstone and Moftat to Africa, ant
the first Protestant missionaries u
China. Bishop Coke sent the first mis-
sionary to the West Indies. For tel
years persecution was rife, but tn
t church tlourished, and in 1916 convert
: we're being gained at the rate OF 1000
:; year. ~,
South Wales was q converted convict
q who was educated in 1872. DR.. Cushin
3 reviewed the wonderful progress 9
. Methodism in the South Sea islands
! where civilization kept pace with tn
. poosress OF the church. Among the
Fruits OF wEsLEY's PREACHING
! WAS a hunger for knowledge, a desir
: for books, leading to the establishment
!, the first circulating library in Londor
Pspers doubled their circulation, an
proyision was made for education. BIT
, the richest fruits of Wesley's preachin
. were the spiritual awakening and tn
1 new and clearer views OF the truths
i the Bible. His views Of sancti6catio
were explained, and the fact that he dii
iered from many in this day as to To
omen profession Of holiness was recalled
The sneaker said he did not find satit
factory evidence that Wesley ever pro
iessed that he had been sanctided, an
> IL he did he was sure 1t was late in life
and never before .promiscuous aud
iences.
He thought also that Wesley's teach
ings had had wonderful effect o.
Calvinists. While Calyin's views are stil
held by some, they are seldom or neVe
taught as in former times. Quotation
tn show the truth Of this claim wer'
given. :, =,
Wesley's wonderful physical activity
in old age was referred to- at ~ hi
preached with as great power as ever
and his heaviest work, physical ant
intellectual, was done between the ageI
| OF 70 and go. On March 3, l79l, ht
died. He was very simple in his habits
and directed that his funeral should b
without pomp, and that his body should
be borne to the grave by six poor mer
and that each be paid S..
wesley's literary work and his won
derful power over great men was re
| viewed, and in conclusion he went into
consideration Of the far reaching effects
OF bis life and work.
Last evening the sunday-school con
neCted with the church celebrated the
Wesley centenary with appropriate ex'
ercises, among which were addresses BY
A. ]. Clarke, Esq, Mr.. ]. E. Hughes and
Mr.. Samuel Jepson.