Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-12-12
FIhSI ICLL17 TUT NIL HVD1NIo'
An Original Copy of a Valuable Printed
SSs 49, Work is Found in st. Louis.

st. Louis, Mo-, December IAN
original copy of the first printed
Rules for the Society of the People
called Methodists" was found to day
in this city. 1t was published by
John and Charles Wesley over their
own signatures in 1743 and contains
the nucleus of the literature of the
Methodist Church.
The circular is of four pages and
is falling to pieces from age and
handling. The paper is yellow and
the print is unreliable in places
from the stains of time. The first
paragraphs are as follows:
81. In the latter end of year 1879
eight or ten persons came to London,
who appeared to be deeply convicted
of sin and earnestly grooming for
redemption. 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, l APP.
pointed a day when they might all
come together, which from thence
forward they did every week, viz:
On Thursday, in the evening To
these and as many as desired to join
with them for their number in
creased daily 1 gave those advice
from time to time which l judged
most needful for them, and we
ALWAYS concluded our meetings with
PRAYER suitable to their several
necessities.
-. This was the rise of the United
Society. First in London and then
in other places. Such a society is
none other than q company OF men
having the form and seeking the
power of godliness; 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.
rs. That it may be more easily dis
cerned whether they are indeed work
ing out their own salvation each So
ciety is divided into smaller compan-
les, called classes, according to their
respective 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 lead
ers are then set forth, together with
a list of the occasions Of temptation
that beset mankind. Prominent
among the latter is drunkenness,
buying or selling spirituous liquors
or drinking them, unless in cases OF
extreme necessity" The exhortation
warns the members Of the society
against doing what we know is not
for the glory of God-as the putting
on of gold or costly apparel; the sing
ing of those songs or reading Of those
books that do not tend to the knowl
edge or love of God; softness and
needless self indulgence; laying up
treasures on earth; borrowing with
out a probability of paying"
Although most of the pronouns in
the document are in the first person
singular it is signed u. and G. Yves
ley" the date is May /, 174S, and at
the bottom is the imprint, printed
by T. Bordeaux, II City Road, Lon
dom
1t was just about this date the
Society of People Called Meth
odists" obtained possession of their
first house of worship. 1t was an old
cannon foundry, near the present
site of Finsbury Square. in London,
and the Wesleys lived in an old
house in the rear of it. They con-
Quoted sort of a religious book
store in one of the rooms of the foun
dry. The church was always known
as The Foundry" and was never
more pretentious than bare walled,
comfortless room, with rough wooden
benches, upon which sat the congre
CATION in separate groups of men and
women.