Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-17
JOHN WESLEY

GILpED LOVE STORY.
 To the Age Herald:
 Some one, choosing for the title of his subject "Wesiey's Love Story" has brought for the delectation of his readers an article of extraordinary qualities. The said article appeared in the AGE HERALD of March 10, 1885 In expression of the merit of the article it has been secured in exclusive benefit to print, publish and vend by copyright. EugravIngs embelish the work. There are limitations ol hearts and suggestions of Cupid's trcKs. The author has sought to give effect 10 the arti- Gle by sensational headlines, such as the following: "A Strange Romance of Lhe Early Days of Georgia,'' "Wooed, Won and Jilted,' IA Hitherto Unpublished Episode in the Life of the Founder of Methodism, '' ''5ophia Causton's Trag- edy.'
 The subject is introduced by the follow ing sage utterance: 'In an old library of the south, where letters and paper have been slowed away for two centuries, has been unearthed strange story; nothing more nor less than the love life of John Wesley lu Georgia.'
 Passing strange as it may seem, this de- leclable writer and inventive genius does not give, in support and authentication of what he calls the ''strsnge story'' of 'the love life of John Wesley in Georgia" and which he claims ''has been unearthed, ,'' the contents of single one of the "leltars and papers' which he says "have been slowed away for two centuries.' In pre- ventlon of successful issue in sinister de- signs and attempted frauds, courts of jus- tice and equity have established the rule that oral testimony can pot be substituted for documentary when the documents themselves can be procured. The best proof of the contents of document is the document itself. In the weaving of such wonderful 'story,'' and in giving such graphic account of such wonderful "epi- sode in the life of the founder of Method ism, - why are these ''letters and papers' suppressed? Candor and cupidity, malice and mammon, veracity and viciousness may be interrogated for the answer.
 As matter of fact no 'letters and pa- pers have been slowed away for two centu- rles" which contain anything about John Wesley in Georgia. This is 1895. John Wesley first set foot on American ground, about in the morning, February 6, 1736. Can any confidence be placed in the state ments of a writer who is so inaccurate and rash as to assert that ''in an old library of the south, where letters and papers have been slowed away for two centuries, has Leen unearthed a strange story; nothing more nor less than the love lie of John Wesley in Georgia?'
 This writer, so reckless of dates and facts. and so slovenly in bis grouping of wool Of his love story, says: ''There are pretty word pictures in these old letters of the two young people sitting together un- der the trees in the public park, or walking together in the love feasts in the evening. One can see the tall, 1.-the figure of Wesley, priest- roped, classic faced, thrilled with a first, strange, human love.' The very sound of fiction is in this language about the "old letters of the two young people, o and about the walking together in the was on it's highest and widest flight when it could "see the tall figure of Wesley.'' As matter of fact, Wesley was not tall of stature. This writer does not deign to, give to the reader the ''pretty word pictures in these old letters of the two young people, Did the two young people ever write any letters to each other sitting together under the trees of the public park, or walking to- gether in the love feasts in the evening7 Can any letter written by John Wesley to Miss Sophia Causton on love and cour:ship and having his signature to it in his own handwriting, be produced7 Ifso, why is 1t lot done?
 But listen to the following and see whether revenge or redress characterize the glib utterance: "Oglethorpe determined to hasten matters between Wesley and Miss Causton. Accordingly he made dinner at his own house, and Grimaldi, his foreign servant, tempered with the cypress wine, but whether by the generals direction or not was never quite clear to Mir. Wesley. In the evening sophia Causton was there. and the general had her sing for them some old love songs of England and Scotland aud snntches from the operas of London. She danced, too, and recited and completely overwhelmed the pious youth with her beauty and accomplishments. That night, under the palmetto trees near the govern or's house, with the dark eyed, handsome girl beside him and with her entrancing voice in his ears. with the cypress wine and Grimaldi's decoction hot in his blood, John Wesley became aware that he loved her. The revelation was shock to him, for he had preached celibacy since he was small boy. He had felt himself welded to the church, to his great faith and mission in life. The strife of spirit threw him into a fever. Miss Causton did the only thing that young lady in her state of mind could do. She nursed him, and he allowed her to. This circumstance was sufficient proof to their friends that marriage was certain. If more proof were needed he raved of her inishis delirium. Miss Causton brought her aunt to hear him, and between them they fancied him quite decided to marry scPhis:" Fbds: .,.r,,,n. .. ", j., ,. the air and tone peculiar to fictitious utter ances, and the ''letters and papers'' ''stowed away for two centuries" are not responsive to the tale of wonders so com placently told. Can any one be so credu- pious youth,'' the ''priest-robed and classic faced" participated in BacchanaI- ian feast and dance, and that with wine and decoctions hot In his blood, he lost his heart and his head, and with burning fever and raying delirium he went to bed where, through g siege of indisposition, nursing and watching, he gave assurancs that he intended to marry Sophie Causton7
 But hear againi "During all these trials he continued to conduct his parish as usual, although he was sort of prisoner at large. At o'clock one evening the little flock gathered in the hurch for prayers. Wes. leyiled as usual. pelamotte was there with the friends who still remained loyal. After the service Wesley was esen to return to his home. But the faithful Delsrnotte had planned an escape from the afpQ torture.