The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-09
An Original Copy of the First
Printed Rules of the Church.
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY
The Circular is Old, Yellow and
Nearly Gone.
METHooIsTs PRIZE IT HIGHLY
Tells of the Formation of the Methodist
Society Many Years Ago History OF
Methodsm From That Day 10 the
Present is Followed Up--All Signed
by j. and G. Wesley.


St. Louis. Dee. S.-An original copy
of the first printed rules for the society
of the people called Methodists" has
been unearthed in this city, and as it
was published by John and Charles Wes-
ley over their own signatures, In 1l43,
and contains the first neuclus Of the liter
allure of the Methodist church, which
now numbers over 100000 members in
the United States, worshipping in $4,000
religious ediices of their own. 1t rs
a most interesting document, not only to
followers of that faith, but to students
of religious history.
The circular is of four pages, and is
falling to pieces with age and handling.
The paper is yellow and the print unread
able in places from the stains of time.
The first paragraphs are as follows:
I'm the latter end of the year 1889
eight or ten persons came to London,
who appeared to be deeply convinced of
sin, and earnestly grooming for redemp-
ton They desired(as 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,
which they saw continually hanging over
their heads. That we might have more
time for this great work, / appointed a
day when they might all come together,
which from thenceforward they did every
week, viz: On. Thursday in the evening.
To these, and as many as desired to join
with them flor their number increased
daily / gave those adyices from time
TO time which / judged most needful for
them, and always concluded our meet
ings with prayer suitable to their several
necessities.
''Second-This was the rise of the Uni
ted society. First in London and then
in other places. Such a society is none
other than a company of men having
the form and seeking the power of God
illness; united in order to pray together,
to receive the word of eXhortation, and
to watch over one another in~love,- that
they may help each other to work out
their salvation.
''Third-That it may be more easily
discerned whether they are indeed work
ing out their own salvation, each society
is divided into smaller companies, call
ed classes, according TO their respect
tive places Of abode. There are about
twelve persons in every class, one of
whom is styled the leader"
The rules for the use of these leaders
are then set forth, together with list
of the occasions of temptation that be-
set mankind. Prominent among the lat
ter is drunkenness; buying or selling
spiritu0us liquors. or drinking them, un-
less in cases Of extreme necessity" and
further ON its quaint yerbiage the ex
hortant warns the members of the So
ciety against doing what we know is
not for the glory of God; as the putting
IL. Al.
that do not tend to the knowledge or love
of God; softness and needless self-indul-
gence; laying up treasures on earth;
borrowing without a probability of pay
ing"
Although most of the pronuons in the
document are in the first person singu-
Lar it is signed j. and G. Wesley, the
date is May /, 1743, and at the bottom
is the imprint: Printed by T. Cordeaux,
II City Road, London"
1t was just about this date that the
society of people called Methodists" OBJ |
tanned possession Of their first house of |
worship. 1t was an old cannon foundry, |
near the present site Of Finsbury square |
in London, and the Wesley's lived in an |
old house at he rear. They conducted a |
sort of religious bookstore also in one /
OF the rooms of the foundry. The church /
was always known as 1.-THE Foundry"
and was never more pretentious than
a bare-walled, comfortless room with
rough wooden benches, upon which the
sat.
The exact regularity of their lives"
says Chronicler, ''occasioned young
gentleman Of Christ's. church college to
say: Here is new set of Methodists
sprung up abiding it is said, to some
ancient physicians who were so-called,
and in this manner the church was
founded and the immense organization
Df the united worshippers which we have
to-day came to be called 'Methodists.'"