The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-15
RELIC OF mETHODIsM
An Original Copy of the First Printed Rules
Of the Society Unsarlhed.
1T is FALLING TO PIECES WITH ACE
The Print in Rendered Unrendaiie
fnPiaces by the Stains of Time.
lint Much of che Fairly History
and Practices of the Society Can
BE Learned From IL.

!
BE Learned From It.
81. Louis, Mo-, Dec. IAN original
copy or the first printed rules for the
society OF the People called Methodists'
| was unearthed last Sunday in this CITY
anu as 1T was published by John and
charles Wesley, over their own sigma
lures. in 1743, and contains the first nu-
cieus or the literature of the Methodist
Snurch, which now numbers over 5,0O0.-
wv members in the United States. wor-
shipping In $4,000 religious edltices OF
their own, 1t is n most Interesting docu-
ment, not only to followers of that faith
but to students of religious history.
YELLOW WITH AGE.
The circular IL of fouT pages. end is
railing 10 pieces with age and hand
ing. The paper Is yellow and the print
unreadablc III places from the stains of
time The first paragraphs are as fol-
lows:
I'm the latter end of the year 1879
eight or ten persons came to London
VINO appeared to be deeply convinced
oil SIN and earnestly groaning for re-
demption. They desired las did two or
three more the next day. that / would
spend some time with them in prayer.
ana advise them how no flee from the
wrath to come, which they saw continu-
ally hanging over their heads That
we might have more time for this
great work, appointed n day when ehey
might all come together, which from
thenceforth forward they did every
week, viz: On Thursday evening. TO
these and as many as desired those adj
vices from time to time which | Judged
most needful for them, and we always
concluded our meetings with prayer suit
able to their several necessities
'SecOnd-ThiS Wa: the rise IF tbn
United Society. Fist In London, ana
then in other places. Such society
Is none other than a company of men
having the form and seeking the pow
er of goodness; united in order to pray
toget her. TO receive the word of eXho"-
taticn and to watch over one another
in love, that they may help each other
to work out their salvation.
"Third-That it may be easily discern
ed whether they are indeed working out
their own salvation, each society Is di-
vided into smaller companies called
classes, according 10 their respective
places of abode. There are about twelve
persons in every class, one of whom is
styled the leader"
RULES OF CONDUCT.
The rules for the use Of these leaders
are then set forth, toge her with list or
the occaslon-of temptation That , beset
mankind Prominent among the latter
|
| ri.uous liquors, or drinking them unless
In cases of necessity" and further on
| In its quaint vcrhiage the eXhortation
warns the members Of the socie:y
| against doing what we know Is not for
| the glory of God. as the putting on of
gold or costly apparel, the singing Of
thosc songs or reading those books that
| do not tend Ia the Knowledge or love
| of God, Sof;ncss ANA needless selr-indul-
| gcncc. laying up treasure on earth
| borrowing without probability of pay
! ing"
y. AND c. WESLEY"
Although mos: of "the pronouns in
the document are i'm the frs: person
| singular" 1t is signed ]. and G. Wesley
The date is May |. 1913. and at the bot
tom is the imprint: printed by n Cor
| deauS, II City Road. London"
| Il was just about this date that the
society OF People Called Mcthodists"
obtained possession of their first house
| Of worship 1t was an old cannon
foundry near the present. site Of Fins
bury Square. London, ana the Wcseys
| lived in an old house in III" rear. They
| conducted sort of a religious book
| store also In one of the rooms OF the
| foundry. The church was always
known as The Foundry" ANA was ncv-
er more prctentiOus than 2 bare-wallcd.
| comlo"tleSs room. with rough wooden
benches, upon which sat the congrega-
| zion in separate groups Of women and
| men.
| The exact regularity Of their lives"
| says chronology "occas!oncd a young
| gentleman of Ch!ist's church College 10
| say: Here is q new set of Mothodsts
sprung up alludlng, it is said, 10 some
ancient physicians who Were 50 called,
| ana In this manner the church was
the occasions of temptation that bcsc.
of the united worshippers which have