Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-07
IBLEGRAPHlC.
DOCUMENT
4, Original Copy OF the Rules OIL
lhe MethOdISls,
ny JOHN AND CHARLEY WESLEY.
II Contains the Nu,lcus of the Litera'
ture of the Methodist
Church,

ST. LOUIS, Dec. Gan original cory
n, IN, frst printed "Ru.es for the So
c,stv of the People called Meihodists,"
wss unearthed today In this city, as II
Vas published by John ana Charley
Wesley, over their own Signatures in
1884. and contains the nucleus of the
ut.ts,ure Of the Methodist church, 1t
ia most interesting document, mo-
only TO followers OF that faith but to
students OF religious history.
The circular is OF four pages and lie
falling to pieces with sge and hand.
ling. The paper 10 yellow and the
mint unreliable In places from the
siaips of time. The first paragraphs
uro rs follows:
an the latter end of the year 1879
eight or ten persons came to London,
who appeared to be- deeply convinced
Of ,in ana earnestly groaning for
redemption. They desired las did two
Or three or more the next cpy) that
would speuu aone time with them In
meyer and advise them how TO flee from
ibe wrath to come, which they saw con.
,lpually hanging over their heads.
That we might have more time Tor
this great work l appointed dpy
when they might all come together,
which from thenceforward they did
every week, viz, on Thursday in the
evening. 10 these ami as many as
desired to Join with the IN (for their
number increased dniIy)I gave those
sdvicts from time to time which l
Judged most nesdfnl for them, and we
always concluded our meetings OF
Jrsyer suitable to their several necessi-
Ties.
"SsconG-Thip was the rise Of the
United society. First In London ana
tuen In other places. Such a society is
zone other than company Of men
having the term and seekiog the
power Of goodness, united in order to
pray together, to receive the word OF
txhortation and to watch over one an.
Other in love, that they msy help each
other to work out their salvation.
"rhird--That 1t may be more easily
ditcerned whether they are indeed
working out their salvation, each
society is divided into smaller cOmpan-
Ter, called classes, according to their
respective places OF abode. There are
Nbout twelve persons in every class,
one of whom Is sty led tho leader"
The rules for the use OF these leaders
are then set forth, together with a list
Of the occasions of temptation that be-
Jet mankind. Prominent among the
latter 10 DRUNKENNESS, buying or sell.
ing spirituous liquors or drinking
them, unless In casss Of extreme neces.
eny,"
Although most Of the pronouns In
the document are In the first person
singular, 1t is signed J. G. and e. wes.
ley. TIE date is May 1, l7I3, and at
tnc Bottom is the Imprint:
"PtiGted by the CoIdeaux, IA City
Road, London.
1t was just after this date that the
Society OF People called Meth odists''
obtained possession of their first house
OF worship. 1t was an old cannon fac.
tory near the present site o! Finsbury
lquare, in London, aud the wssleys
lived In an old house at the rear. They
conducted u sort OF religious bookstore
also In one Of the rooms OF the foun.
dry.
The church was always known as
zine Foundry" and was never more
PIE ehtiOus than a bare-walled, com.
,otiltss room, with rough wooden