The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-07
WEsLEY's HANDWRITING.
An Original Document by the Found
cr of McthOdfSm.

st. Louis, Mo-. December An original
copy of the first printed rules @. The So
c.oiy Of People, called Mothcdists. was
unclrthod today In this city. and us IT was
published by John and Charles Wesley over
the first incubus OF the literature Of The
Methodist church. which now numbers over
100000 III mbcrs in the United States wor-
shipping in $1,000 religious edtices of their
own, 1t is most interesting document, not
only to followers of the faith, but 10 the
students of religious history.
The circular is of four pages anu is fall
PAPER is yellow and the print unreadabe
in places from the stains OF time. The first
paragraphs are as follows:
In the latter end OF the year 1889 eight
on ten persons came TO London who ap-
reared 10 be deeply convinced of sin and
earnestly prayed for redemption They de-
sired las did two or three more the next
day. that | would spend some time with
them In prayer, and advise them how to
flee from the wrath to come what they saw
continually hanging over their heads. Thai
We might have more time for this great
work, l appointed a day when they might
all come together, which. from thenceloith
they aid every week. viz, on Thursday in
the evening To these and as many as de.
.iIed to join with them flor their number
increased daily | gave those advices from
time to time which | judged most needful
Tor them and We always concluded our
meetings with prayer suitable to their sew
eral necessities.
2. This was the result of the Unite dS,-
ciety. first In London and then Ia othcr
places Such society is none other than
company of men having the form and
seeking the power Of godlncss united In
order TO pray together to receive the words
OF eXhortation and to watch over one an
Cthcr IN love that they may holm each other
to work out TIL salva'i lon.
3. hat 1t may be mo e easily disc.rncd
whether they are indeed workiAg out thor
own salvation, each society is divided into
smaller companies called classes Accord
ing to their respective rlao Of abcd,
There are about twelve persons in eve y
class. one of whom is call d the leader
The rules for tho use of the leaie-s nre
then set forth together With a list Ct tie
occasions OF temptation that toset man.
kind
Prominent among the latter are drunk.
enness, buying or selling or drinking
liquors unless in cases OF extreme rec,s.
sity' And further on its quaint rhiaca
In its eXhortations warns the society
against "doirg what they know Is not for
God tho singing of those songs or reading
those books that do not tend 10 give know-
edse Of lovo of God; selfindulgence; in
laying UP treasures on earth; borrowing
without a problbi ity Of plyirg"
Although NEST of the prorolns in the
document are in the first person singular,
1t is signed ~. and C. Wesley" The da Q
is May L. lTi3, and az the bottom is the i'm
print Printed by T. Bordeaux, IA City
Read, London
1t WIS Just about this date The so,iety
of people, called Methodists obtained pea
session OF their first house OF worship. 1t
was an old cannon foundry near tn pres
ent site OF Finsbury square, in London,
and the Wosleys lived in an old house
at the rear. They conducted sort Of re-
ligious book store also In one Of the ROOFS
OF the foundry. The church was always
known as the Foundry" ard was never
more bare walled comfortless ro1m, with
rough wooden benches. upon which sat the
congregation in separate groups OF men
and women.