Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-07

The Founder Of MethOdisn--His Early Work
at Oxford.

ut Oxford
1.-THE Gasete Of the United States, in its
issue for April q, 1884," writes Geo. T.
Packard in Harpr's Weekly, had an
announcement (under date Of Liverpool
March 81 Of the death Of the Rev. John wes-
ley, in his eighty-eighth year. In the same col.
umn was given letter from George Washing.
ton, replying to an address of the authorities
OF fredericksburg, Va Thus, in that publica-
ton OF century ago, were associated the names
OF the Father of his Country and the father OF
religious denomination. as they are today in
many an American home. A century-living
fame is rare, but 100 years after his death q
multitude Of various creeds are ready to say,
with Matthew Arnold, that WeAey had a ge-
MUS for godliness, and, with Macaulay. to de-
clare that his genius for government was no,
inferior to that Of Richelieu.''
Speaking of his work at college the writer
says: In that room in Lincoln College which
is pointed out to visitors as ''Wesley's room. ~
while "Wesley's vine" Chambers up the walls
without, the young scholar did work which
gave him repute for q fine literary taste. He
had skill in logic; he was fond of mathematics
and Experimental in optics-he was, in q word,
| good "all-round" scholar. He now began the
practice Of rising at 4 in the morning. Sixty
years later he could say that he had made that
morning in Oxford, and that, taking the year
round, he did not lie awake quarter Of an
hour in month. Probably this part of
Wesleys example has had the fewest imitators.
When Wesley returned to Oxford he found
that his brother Charles, now a college tutor,
was more attentive to his religious duties He
had gathered few ike-minded friends about
him, whose system in study and soberness of
demeanor had earned for them the name OF
Methodist. They were marked men through
were "Bible Moths, !" Enthusiasts" '.Superero-
cation Men" Recommendations" ''the Cody
Club" ''the Holy Club and '.the Reforming
Club" John Wesley became at once the leader
OF these men and was known as the curator OF
the Holy Club. Beside the Wesley brothers,
commoner Of Christ Church, and Robt. Kirk
ham OF Merton College. Morgan led the way
In visiting the sick and prisoners, and in this
work the others heartily Joined.
RULES OF LIVING.
The rules Of living followed by the Holy
Club included frequent meetings for prayer
and study. They tasted on Wednesday and
Friday, received the holy communion each
week, repeated collect daily at 9:l2 and 8, and
practiced self-denial that they might give to
those in need. In describing his acquaintance
with the Wesleys. Whitefeld says he saw them
go through ridiculing crowd to receive the
holy eucharist at st. Mary's." In going from
house to house among the poor, Wesley at first
used words of Greek and Latin origin and
noticed that there was often only a stare when
he looked for a reply from those he visited He
was talking over their heads This experience
drove him to the use Of simple words. The
plain people" then and throughout his minis
try easily understood him. This earlier Oxford
movement thus had its practical side 1t ex-
emplitied the faith that works"
PROVIDING IoR TIE CHURCH.
As Wesleys end drew nearer, says the
writer in concluding an interesting sketch, 'he
thus made provision for the spiritual survival
of Methodism. So too in this same year he ar
ranged for the legal recognition of the Metho-
dist movement. A "deed Of declaration" was
executed and enrolled in the chancery. The
conference was constituted with the names OF
one hundred ministers on the roll.
Charles Wesley was happily spared to his
brother TIL three years before the latter
death. Together they had written and said
words which were to enrich the sermons and
songs of MethOdists for all time. On March 20.
l7SS, the end of life, about which he had
preached 80 often and written so many HYMNS.
came to the sturdy Methodist churchman
still. He refused to be buried in the City Road
cemetery as unconsecrated ground: but after
ward an old man, who showed the cemetery to
Dean Stanley, was to say to that representative
OF the Church Of England that the ground was
''consecrated by the bones of that holy man
the holy servant Of God-John Wesley"
The last years Of John Wesley's life were
crowned with honor. Then, as In the latest
Anglican congress, many churchmen were
ready to own the good that the Wesleyan
The tide OF enmity was largely stayed. Com
munlties where he had been mobbed welcomed
him-as Falmouth, whose angry crowd once
.'roared like lions" but where now high and
low lined the streets, gaping and staring as if
soe t s.ns W were sog Henry Crab Robin
fore the preacher died. A minister ON either
hand supported the patriarch. ''His feeble
voice was scarcely audible but his reverend
countenance, especially his long, white locks,
formed picture neve. to be forgotten"
THE END OF HIS CAREER
Wesley's last field preaching was at winchel-
sea on October 6, 1880. He had planned to 90
north on preaching tour in March of the fol-
lowing year, but his failing strength cut short
his service. He was to live to see only the
opening of that month. His last sermon in
City Road Chapel wac on Tuesday evening.
February %. The next day he ended his
preaching work, speaking at Leatherhead.
Wesley's ilst letter, closing a series Of memora-
BILE eplstles, was addressed to Wilberforce. and
bore the date of February "a. In il occurs the
passage that has fairly blazed in many a con-
troversy, ''[Slaveryl, that execrable villainy.
which is the scandal Of religion, Of England
and of human nature"
Wesley and when he came to die it was seen
that he likewise was able to do it well. !"
About noon o. Friday of that last week he
said, II must lie down." The fever consumed
his vitality. But after this he rallied and his
death did not occur till the following Wednes-
day, March 2. "Bless the church and the
king" he prayed, not many hours before he
died. Farewell" was the last word from Inns
whose utterances had shaken England.
Dressed in cassock, gown and bands he Law in
the City Road Chapel, voiceless, but preaching
still, and then, early in the morning lest the
multitude should "throng each other if the
burial were later in the day, he was laid In the
chapel burying ground. The officiating minis
ter changed the words of the burial office. and
twas 'our dear father" whom Almighty God
had taken unto Himself.
HIS SURROUNDINGS AND CHARACTER.
One who studies the life Of Wesley finds
much to surprise him. He was an orator of
the first rank, judged by his power over a null
titude. and yet he was scarcely five feet six
inches tall, while his weight was only about 1875
pounds. Ii those who heard him had supposed
that impressive presence necessarily depends
on great bulk they were quickly undeceived
when Wesley's alert form was before them and
his piercing eye searched them through and
through. Men who came to hear that ''vaga-
bond" were astonished to find that he had the
best education England could give. It
might well be that Wesley had read his
Odyssey on his way to that very town, or
beguiled the journey with some other classic.
II they inquired further about that 'suncouth
preacher" the great DIR. johnson could tell
them that Wesley was such an engaging man
that he CDR. Johnson) "could talk all day and
recognition as a philanthropist, but he gave
81 IN ON in charitiaa. ha aIahoraxa1 g..