The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-04-03
WESLEY'S ROMANCE.
THE SWEET, SAD LOVE STORY OF
THE GREAT PREACHER.

The Struggle Between His Affection For
Sophia Canston and What He Believed
to Be His Religious Duty-Partisans of
Each Side Took Active Parts.
u vae ~ tho house Of Governor OVlo-
thorpe in the early days of Georgia,
says % writer in the Boston Herald.
In the evening Sophia Canston was
there, and the general had her sing for
them some old love songs of England
and Scotland, and snatohos from Tho
operas Of london. SIZE danced, too, aa3
reoitad, and completely ovclWAcW
tho .pious youth with hlr beauty aa.
accomplishments.
That night, under the palmetto tree
near tho governors S house, with Che dath
eyed, handsome gill beside him, anb
with her ontrancing voico 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 been preaching celibacy since
he was a small boy. He had felt him
self welded to tho church, to his great
faith and mission in life The strife Of
spirit threw him into fever.
Miss Canston did the only thing that
q young lady in her state Of mind coulC
do. She nursed him, and he allowed
her TO. This circumstance was sufficient
proof to their friends that marriage wat
certain If more proof was needed, hi
raved of her in his delirium. Miss Can
ston brought her aunt to hear him, an5
between them thoy fanciod him quite
decided to marry Sophia. Ho asked hCi
many times if she would or could mars
him, "and il he should indeed marry
her." He went through with tho mar
riage ceremony of tho Church of Eng
land, for the benefit of imaginary cou
pies who stood at his bedside.
After his recovery Wosley's friend
came to congratulate him on his engage
ment. But over since his miraculouf
rescue from fire in his childhood he hac
been convinced that he had been singled
out by his Maker for some special puI'
pose, and now he was prostrating him
self before an earthly idol and forget
ting his mission.
Alarmed for his soul, ho rushed 60
the bishop and the Moravian mission
aries for advice. They had the same
hard, unrelenting convictions which tor
mented Wesley, and they advised him
to give up his idol and turn to his God.
Wesley knew not what to do. He wan
dered in the forests praying aloud for
light as to his walk before God He
knelt under the blooming grape vines,
and shielded by the long, gray moss
from any living eye sought wisdom
and comfort.
That night he asked advice q second
time of the elder.
eve havo considered your case, " said
tho bishop "Will you abide by our de-
cision?'
81 will abide by your decision ~
Then tho bishop said, "We advise
you to proceed no further in this mat
ter"
80 be It'll" said Wesley, and that
was tho end.
Poor Sophia was heartbroken. Her
relatives were incensed and compelled
her to marry Mr.. Williamson, though
she begged Wesley to intercede in her
behalf Even after she was married she
wrote to Wesley and cast pitiful glances
at him until in his desperation ono day
he forbade her to attend holy commun-
ion. He explained this afternoon on
technical grounds, but the tide had
turned and the people Of Georgia were
against him. A charge of slander was
instituted, but the assailants, knowing
that they had small chance of success,
delayed the trial from week to week
until life in Georgia became unbearable.
He made arrangements to leave the col
ony. But even in this the Canstons
thwarted him. He was forbidden to
leave tho province.
He mover went out that Sophia did
not pass and repass him several times,
and often she was known to look in
upon him when he was at prayer in his
own house.
During all these trials he continued
to conduct his parish as usual, although
he was sort of prisoner at large, At 6
O'Clock ono evening tho little flock
gathered in the church for prayers
Wesley led as usual. Delamotte was
there with the friends who still re-
mained loyal. After the service Wes-
ley was seen to return to his home. But
the faithful Delamotte had planned an
escape from this slow torture. Three
faithful friends led the young clerical
through the darkness to the pier. There
an Indian skiff bore him down the river.
,A.sailing vessel was in waiting, and
soon John Wesley was leaving the land
of.his love forever.
hal