Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-11

the other in the bag, as the wheel turns
round makes his grab either in cash or
toll or both. What is that yonder?
That sir, said the driver, is Epworth,
and as we neared it, situated in the
midst of a farming country, a little
town picturesque and clean, away from
smoky, grimy cities, I said within my
self what hath God wrought" The
best men and women of to-day are
from obscure walks of life. When God
touches human genius, whether in city
or country, it is touch of life, and
means success. So God touched Wes-
ley here and from this humble Epworth
rectory has gone out one of the greatest
forces in the evangelization of the
world. called at the home of the
sexton, and was shown through the
church. Leading to the door is a long
walk shaded with trees, and before en-
tering the vestibule of the church is q
pair of iron gates which yielded to our
bidding by means of a key with which
we unlocked them. Then the same act
repeated and [ was ushered into the
church where Samuel Wesley was rec
tor for 80 years. The quarried floor
sounded under my feet as | walked up
toward the chancel and placed my hand
on the communion table, and from
thence entered the pulpit, afterward
being directed to an old worm eaten
oak chest in corner where Samuel
Wesley's robes were kept. / asked
permission to cut a piece off it. | re-
ceived a negative reply to my request.
Then I said "may 1 break little piece
off this rotton part" and consent was
given. That little piece of worm eaten
oak prize very much.
Standing near the font where John
Wesley was baptized, I noticed some
water in it. That font to me seemed
sacred, and the water in it 'Holy
Water" With this thought [ plunged
my hand in it, right to the bottom, and
then left the building to look at Samuel
Wesley's tomb in the church yard. The
epitaph, in substance, engraven on it is
as follows:-"Here ieth all that is NOR
tai of Samuel Wesley, who for the space
of SO years was rector of this parish,
aged y years-died April 18th, 1875. :"
It was on this tomb that John Wesley
stood and preached when he was not
permitted to preach in the church.
Marks are still there which his feet
covered. I supposed that those marks
had been cut in by some of the parish
oners I climbed on the tomb, placed
my feet on the marks, and though l
never expect to be as good or useful a
man as Wesley, must say it was really
inspiring, or rather exciting. After this
| went to the rectory. [ could have
told it from the pictures of it on the
Epworth Hymnal cover. In the old
rectory Wesley was born, and at the
age of six, in February, 1909, was res
cued from the flames by means of one
man standing on others shoulders. The
only difference noticeable in the build
ing from the present representations is
the addition of wing forming pastors
study. The rector, Rev. Overton, was
very genial. / was shown through the
house, went into the haunted room
with its cemented floor, now used as a
store room. The stairway leading to
this room and the family bedroom of
Samuel Wesley is supposed to be the
same. Around the rectory is a finely
kept lawn and beautiful garden, all en-
closed by high stone wall. The Wes-
leyan Memorial Chapel is very pretty,
on one side is the minister's house, and
on the other the janitors house, all
stone buildings, and the grounds are all
attended to by the janitor of the church.
| called upon the minister and found
him, like all Methodist ministers, get
ting ready for conference time, and
perpleXed somewhat as to the advisa-
bility of remaining as pastor. He open
ed his heart to me and seemed glad to
be able to do so, and told me that Rev.
H. P. Haylett, of West Superior,
preached for him last summer. After
this | was driven in a "dog cart" to
Haxey, and from thence by train to
Lincoln and from thence through Not
tingham, Tamworth and Stafford to
Wellington in Shropshire.