The Penn's Grove record., 1891-03-06
WESLEY CENTENARY.
THE FOUNDER OF METHODIST hNp
THE RAPID GROWTH or the De
NOMINATION DURING }Nh

SfAiAHh rs AH'HNNth'AA 800
1889; previous to that the phrase New
Methodists'' was applied in dcrision to
Mr.. Wesley and u few young men
associated with him in Oxford Uniyer-
sity. The founder of the society, the
Rev. John Wesley, was born June 18th.
1903, in the parish of EpwOrth, Lin
colnshire. His father was Rector Of
the parish church, and his mother was
the daughter of the Rev. DR.. Aunesley.
an independent minister. In his eley-
enth year, through the kindness Of the
Duke Of Buckingham, John Wesley
was admitted 10 the Charter House
School in London. In his 18th year he
was elected a student in Christ College,
Oxford, where he continued until after
his ordination as a minister at the age of
"a. In the year following he was elected Il
fellow of Lincoln College, and for sew
eral years lie acted as tutor and pursued
his studies in divinity. Among the
thoughtful young men who gathered
| around him were his brother, CHARLES,
and George Whitefeld.
For Il short period Mr.. Wesley acted
as a curate for his father, and in 1875
he went as a missionary to the c]olouists
in Georgia. lie subsequently returned
to London, and, while At 4 meeting Of
the Moravians in May, 113S, anllisten-
ing to the description of the change
which God works in tie renitent heart,
he said: Il felt my heart strangely
warmed: felt | did trust in Christ,
Christ alone, for salvation, and an as
suralice was given me that He had talk
Ell away my sins, even mine, aud say
ed ne lrora the law Of sin AID death.
began to pray with all my might fol
those who had in il more especial man
ner despitetuIly used me. and perSecut-
ed me; then testified openly to all
those what o first feItlnmy heart.
His wonderful career properly cnmtnen-'
ctd at that time.
In the latter part OF TIE year 1853
eight or ten persons came to Mr.. Yves
ley III London and desired that he would
spend some time with them III prayer,
and advise thctu how to flee from the
wrath to come. For this purpose
Thulsday evening in each week vas SET
apart. Twelve persons am ;he first
evening, 40 the next, 0 0 a hundred,
This was the lightning Of organized
Methodist societies. Ine stme year
Wesley laid tie foundation III Briste!
OF the iilat Methodist chapel, and also
rented in London Il building called the
Foundry, which he used for religions
worship. Congregations and societies
increased rapidly in London and other
parts Of England, Nearly three years
elapsed before class meetings were gen
orally introduced into MI. Wesley S soc
ieties. For SOME yeals he had 10 Ie-
guIar plan of appointments, but they
were sent from town to town where it
was believed their services were most
needed. In l14l The first Annual Con-
ference met. AT the Conference in
l14G the first mention is found of cir-
cuts regularly established. In 1861
the first complete reports show 25.9l1
members; there we've then ii circuits
and l04 preachers. III 1863 the fist
preachers were sent to Mouth America.
and i'll lTI5 the reports show 81 circuits
lfO preachers and 3S,1iJ members. Of
whom BIAS were in America.
M~ETHoDISM IN AMERICA.
About lhe year l7Gl, Robert Straw
bridge, Il local preacher from the North
of Ireland, settled on Sans Creek.
Maryland, and subsequently erected a
small log building in which services
were held. In lI76, Philip Embuly.
another local preacher, commenced ser
vice in his house ia New. York. Can
tain Webb, Il British officer, who had
been converted in England. and licrn.
sed by Mr.. Wesley rs Il local preacher.
not only preached in New York and
assisted in the erection of tie John
Street Church, but visited Long Island
where he gathered Il society. ana he
preached IN the chief towns of New
Jersey. He introduced Meth6dism in
10 l1lft,I.1I