The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-10

JOHN WESLEY IN OLD AGE.
usual occupations of newly arrived col
onists seemed to have put an end to Wes-
lcy's lovemakng. Oglethorpe went on TO
the site of Fredrica. accompanied by
Charles Wesley and Delamotte his in
separable companion. The rest of the En-
glish set about raising tents or bark-cov-
cred huts along the square and streets of
Savannah. John Wesley went with some
OF the Germans. because he had begun the
study Of their lang1ag on board the ship,
and desired 10 pursue that study. Amid
the noise of the rice-birds the fort at
Savannah was raised. and Wesley built
his parsonage and schoolhouse.
Mr.. Canstou, Sophia's uncle, was made
chief magistrate and storekeeper, and his
niece made herself quite charming as
Wesley's pupil In French and an earn
est seeker after the exquisite pleasures
OF experimental holiness.
At this time John Wesley wrote TO a
friend. ~ find myself as neither desired
nor eXpeCted-indulging in honors and in
ease and abundance. Strange school for
one who hath but one business TO exercise
himself unto holiness, nudi nudum chris
tum seoul"
Sophia was the official belle of the
place. She and John Wesley were the
most conspicuous figures in society, and
were consequently thrown together very
frequently. Governor Oglethorpe looked
upon the affair as settled and so did the
people of the colony. Oglethorpe wished
TO see II settled. because he wished to
keep Wesley at Savannah, instead of let
ting the young missionary wander off, as
had been his original intention, to preach
10 the Indians. Wesley and Delamotte
taught school, preached and held love
feasts, and in the evening sang psalms.
Mr.. Delamotte taught about forty chill
dren 10 read. write and cast accounts"
Before school in the morning. and after
school in the evening, Mr.. Wesley cate
chisod the "lower class of children, and
ondeavorcd 10 fix something of his own
spirit into their minds as well as their
memories.
At night when the candles burned. and
their work was done, and the still woods
about them gave back no echo TO their
voices, Mr. Wesley had the women and
young men meet at the church for a sew
erer catechism OF their Bibles. The few
hours left from this teaching he spent
partly In studying German with Bishop
Nitschma, teaching Greek TO Mr.. De-
lamotte. helping Charles Wesley with his
sermons and reading French with Sophia
Canston.
There are pretty word pictures in these
old letters of the two young people sit
ting together under the trees in the pub
lie park or walking together TO the love
feasts in the evening. one can see the
tall. 1.-THE figure OF Wesley. priest-robed,
classic-faced. thrilled with a first. strange
human love.
But he was the very last person TO see
himself In the situation. lie kept him
self quite busy. built a parsonage, in
which he lived In the stern, pie isureless,
netfodical way which afterwards gave a
ms me 10 his religion; and he rendered mp
the account OF his meagre expenses TO the
honorable trustees OF Georgia. lie visit
I'd Fredrica often to preach TO the set
tiers there. lie studied the Indian Ian
guage. still In hopes OF going among them.
Al times he slept upon the ground. and
when morning came discovered his clothes
10 have been frozen to the earth as
well as his long. abundant hair Once he
WIS nearly drowned in The icy river while
attempting 10 cross. but these were the
ordinary experiences OF early mission
aries.
But now came the crisis Of the human