The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-02
WESLEY DEADACENTURY
METHoDIsTs OBSERVE TIE CEN
TENNIAL OF ER'5 DENISE


Savannah-The Part He Played IL
the Founding of the Colony-Rev. C
E. Dowman's Sermon-The Wesley
Monumental Church-His Recital o.
wesley's Pastoral Work in Savan
nah-The Founding of the F4srt Sun
daySchool Here.
To-day is the Tooth anniversary Of the
aeath Of John Wesley, the founder OF
MethodIsm.
A memorial service was held yesterday
morning az Wesley Monumental church in
aonor OF John Wesley, and a sermon upon
ais life and work preached by the pastor,
Rev. c. E. bowman.
1t is an interesting fact that tee Wesley
Monumental Church Of Savannah is the
Snly church ever built in honor Of Wesley,
70 far as known, and, in fact, is the only
monument to the memory of the great
apostle and founder Of Methodism.
wEsLEY's LIFE WORK
Mr.. Dowman's sermon is an interesting
account of Wesley's life and work. and con-
aims frequent mention Of his work in Sa-
Tannah.
His text was from Ecclesiastes Will "a
good name is better than precious ointment
aud the day Of death than the day Of ones
birth"
His sermon was as follows
John Wesley was born at Epworth, June H.
sT03. He died in London, March ?, 1921. His
heath was a suitable close OF q long, laborious
and eventful life. Almost literally re ceased
At once to work and live " On Mednes lay, Feb
d he preached his last sermon from seek We
he Lord while he may b. found, " etc. ION
that day, says writer. fell from his diving
grasp trumpet Of the truth which had sounded
fhe everlasting gospel ottener and more effect
laliy Z an that OF any other man for sixteen
aundre1 years" Since his return from Arperi-
"a, in :73S. be had preached A., 40) sermons
more than ft cen week. On saturday. Feb.
&c, b wrote his last letter. In the interest OF q
poor, ignorant aud oppressed portion OF our
ace, Tie few days that followed were spent in
prayer, praise and religious conversation. His
aging watch-word which he repeated over and
aver, was: The best OF all is, God is with us -
On Wednesday morning few minutes before
20, he peacefully fell asleep. His last word was
Farewell" An eyewitness thus describes the
Icene;
THE solemnity Of the dying hour OF that great
and good man, believe will ever be written on
ny heart cloud Of the divine presence rested
On all; and while he could hardly be said to be
an inhabitant OF esr.h-being now speechless-
Ftctory and glory were written on his counte-
1ance and quivering, as it were, his dying lips
No language can paint what appeared in that
lace! The more we gaZed upon e. the more we
SaE OF heaven unspeskable"
He was one Of a trio of greatest men in the
.burch since the ascension OF the Man Of Galilee
Pau, Luther, Wesley. He was pure in life,
heroic IN dangers, patient In sufferings, abun-
liant IN labCrs, eloquent in speech, vigorous OF
pen. he was an orator and poet a theologian
and philosopher He mas Been in heaven a
auDdred years IL permitted TO watch the affairs
u earth what changes he las seem The i20O 900
Nethodists be left on earth have become a
mighty host. The formal-though unintentional
organization OF the Methodist church in 1889
q Tan rnr F.Eal
aggregate Of over six million members,
WITH 25,000OO adherents in 100 years
What hath God sroughtf" 1t is
u savannah, the scene Of his lab rs in America
taould, with appropriate services celebrate the
centennial OF tee death Of the great foun er OF
hethod sm-in whose memory tnis church has
Wesley landed in Savannah March. f7se and
sbored here till Dec ?, 1877. as minister of
what is now Christ church parish Of the Episco-
pal church.
Judged by human Standards his ministry her.
vas . success. He made mistakes he
sorSed the wrong vay-from outward life to
he hear, instead Of from the heart 70 the out
yard life: lie certainly did good in the yo1=g
colony. The SAVIOR OF mis- holy life was felt
III MS short ministry was over. His journal
-eaJs Ike roma c. Though Wesley did not
inter trat course OF life which resulted 10 the
rgann2tlon u MethOdism till after his return
Tom Georgia, still the principles of his LIE and
ministry in Savannah were
NETHoDIsx IN EMBRYO
/. The Class MeetiRg-From journal March
V. 1875: Il now advised the serious part Of the
congregation To form themselves INTO sort OF
little society, and to meet once or twice a week
n order 70 instruct, exhort and reprove one
mother"
The class nesting was the life OF early Meth.
oolsu1-is still power-when maintained. We
ost inucn When We Church, South practically
abandon IL
2; Tie Sunday School-He used to gather the
children ct the church every Sunday afternoon
% learn the catechism aud recsiy. religious in
tructions. He went much further in ms WORK
or children than formal cateU hising Of them
he won their affections; he led them TO Christ
lbs Was nearly fifty years before Raikes estab.
1sned MS Sunday school at Gloucester
The Sunday school. though not peculiar To
Aet1odism, was encouI yed aud developed by
Wesley and the Aethodists, and has been one of
he chief Instruments of its success
3. Wesley came to Georgia as a missionary
de regarded it as his work TO preach to the
indians. When he saw no opportunity of doing
MS, be did not feel called upon to remain: 10
,ndure the prosecutions brought upon him
onger.
The spirit of NJ thodism is missionary. II has
been pioneer church one to seek out the
reelected Methodism has q splendid record in
.or the negroes.
I. AS to the doctrine. he preached
holiness Of life. While he did not know
I, he was no doubt converted
n.
,or the JOY and liberty Of child OF God The
doctrines OF justification by faith, the witness
u the spirit, sanctlhcation, entire conservation
20 God and cleansing from sin have been the
Vital truths that have made Methodist preach
ng such power In revival of religion estab-
ushment OF the church, salvation of souls,
Wherever II has gone. These elements at least
We md in Wesley work In Georgia His com.
ng mere prepared him for the work for which
sod raised him up. Like Moses in indian.
Ezekiel at the Chebar, Saul Of Tarsus in Arabia
be came from the lessons and experiences OF
bis life in this then new, land, to claim the
world as his parish, and to protect the force of
ais character, the fervor OF his purpoSe the
light OF his example down all the ages MANY
centuries as they come and go shall increase
nis praise, and the results of his work roll on
she multitlldes brought to heaven by the in,
strumental!ties he set in motion will ioin the
.ong in watch his voice mingles with theirs
Not unto us, Q Lord; not unto u.s. but unto
thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for
thy truths saken'
WESLEY IN SAVANNAH.
Savannah was the scene of part Of John
Wesley's early ministry, before he had be-
gun his great life work, and also of his
brother Charles, and that alone is sufficient
to make the history of his ministry here of
interest TO the people of Savannah of to-day
Of all classes, since the laborer in this then
obscure vineyard of 1856 years ago has since
achieved such fame in the religious history
Of the world.
WesleY's rigid Interpretation of the doc
trines and attempts at reformation within
The Church Of England being SO oddly re-
ceived, IN fact being met with so much OBJ
nOsifiOn in EOOiand ha dntarupipad ~