The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-02
NESLEY'S CENTENNIAL.
Dr.. Atkinson's Eloquent
Sermon on the Great
Founder of Metho-
diSm.


Of the death Of John Wesley. the founder
of Methodism. The event was celebrated
in some of the Methodist Episcopal
churches throughout this city yesterday.
The services at the West Side N. E
Church last night were especially inter
esting. The regular services gave way
to addresses touching the subject Of Wes-
ley's life and character by various MEM
bers of the church. The choir sang sew
eral selections and the congregation
Joined heartily in hymns composed by
both John and Charles Wesley.
Mr.. Charles Judge, after alluding feel
ingly TO Ireland. the land Of his birth,
which he likened TO an emerald hanging
to the belt of England. he said he was
glad IL was IrishTneu who introduced
Metnodism into this country. He spoke
of Wesley's 1abors In Ireland. He be-
lieved that one OF thechief characterlstics
of John Wesleywas indefatigabllity. Wes-
ley's name, he said. was held in great
reverence by the people OF Ireland. he
did not regard him as the greatest ma n
that ever lived, nor did he believe that
Methodism contained ali that was great
in religion, to the exclusion OF all other
denominations. The man who thought so
did not know the alphabet OF the
genius of Metnodism. But Mr.. Judge
classed Wesley with Luther and Whit
field, and Methodism as the best of all
religious denominations.
THE FIRST METHODIST CONGREGATION.
The Rev. Mr.. Atkinson took up the
strain of thought started by Mr.. Judge
with reference to Irishmen Introducing
Methodism into this country. He related
how Barbara Heck. an Irish woman liv-
lug in New York in 1865, snatched up a
pack of cards from a table in her Kitchen
rrh hfla n marty xvpa N UrOOrpg4 and fhrovr
them into the fire, exclaiming:-" Better
they should be burned than that you
should be cast into hell-hre." How she
went out to Philip Embury, an Irishman
who had been converted by Wesley, and
said, You must preach to these people,
Mr.. EmDury."
''Jhe first congregation" said Mr.. At
Kinson, ''is thought to have met In Bar
bara Heck's kitchen. The congregatio on
was composed of Barbara Heck and her
husnand, Jonn Lawrence. member OF
the card party, aud Betty. slave of Paul
Heck. Robert Williams, who was con-
verted on his way TO this country, was
the next TO teach Wesley's @etnodism.
An Irishman was the first TO welcome the
first minister, a Mr.. Ward, whom Wesley
sent over 10 this country. An American
has reason to think well of Ireland"
w. II. Beach followed Mr.. Atkinson in
an eloquent tribute 70 the life and work
of john Wesley.
I'VE celebrate birthdays" said Mr..
Beach, in the course Of his remarks; I'VE
also commemorate death days. We meet
tonight 10 commemorate the death OF
John Wesley. But there was SO much of
sunshine and blessing that flowed from
mis- life that we may celebrate the ami
yersary OF his death by calling attention
10 the fact that he was great man.
PLACES MADE SACRED BY WESLEY.
Mr. Beach said he had stood in places
made sacred by the presence Of John
Wesley He described the interior of the
City Road Chapel built by Wesley, who
said at the dedicatory services, ut is ele-
CANT, but not too fine"
"He had ideas and tastes" said Mr.
Beach, (which we might follow. He
wanted everything good. He loved good
music, too. He considered it the duty OF
pastor to learn to sing and to sing well.
Mr.. Beach referred to the monuments of
John and Charles Wesley in Westminster
Abbey, the monsoleum of ali the great
men OF England. He had read the In-
scription on Johu Wesley's tablet, back
OF the chancel rail. Reading IL and stop
ping to consider the works ne mud accom-
plisned, the grandness of his mission, he
was constrained to say: Here truly Is a
great man. For sixty-five years he had
been minister Of the gospel He was
the founder and the originator OF the
itinerancy system, which at his death
numbered 800 1tlneranb ministers, 1,5OU
local preachers and $4,000 communicates.
No wonder he had said, The world is
NV parish"
"When Dean Stanley visited this coun-
try some time ago" continued Mr.. Beach,
''Ihe Methodists thought it right to give
him a reception. He was Dean Of West
minister Abbey when the monuments to
the Wesleys were placed there. Dean
Stanley alluded in a speech to CONVERSE
tion he had with those who came to con-
suit him with reference TO placing bust
Of Charles Wesley in the Poets Corner.
If Charles, why not John also,' answered
the Dean. The greater man was John
Wesley"
MIR. Beach compared the length and
breadth of Wesley's character with that
of Napoleon.
"One," he said, twas the embodiment
of selfishness, the other the antipodes. Wes-
ley possessed broadness OF spirit aud lib
| erality of soul to an extent that made them,
as men, as far apart as the east is from
| the west. / see Napoleon retreat1ng with
| 1872 600 men starving and dying and leaving
125, eco slain behind h,m. lsee him march
ing back again with an army OF young
men wishing TO put himself TO heights NO
other man ever dared attempt 10 attain.
But he must attain IL, cost what 1T may.
Wesley's cry was simply for that state OF
religion which would enable him 10 save
men,"
The Rev. Mr.. Atkinson will preach
upon the subject, The Life and Charac
ter of Wesley's Mother" next Sunday.