The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21


John Wesley. to which for the moment we con
One ourselves.
Among the founders OF Mrthodlsm one name
"a 'precmineLt. John Wesley was as truly
tho author OF the sect as Luther was the
author OF the Protestant Reformation In Ger
many. In tho one case. however. as in the
other, II 10 indispensable to glance at the ante
cedent circumstances. These can he clearly
brought ont IN n brief account OF John wesley's
forefathors. An attempt has been made Ia
connect the name OF Wesley with that of
Wellesley, but John Wesley himself do
clared, when IN middle life that all he
or his family knew OF their ancestry went
no furthos back than q letter which
his Grandfather's father had written to her he
was about to marry" That lcttor was dated
1910. so that Bartholomew Wesley was then
single Tho date OF bartholomew wesley's
birth has been variously nxed at the year 1000
and tho year 1908, but all accounts agree that
he was born In Dorsetshirs. II 10 certain that
Purltanisrn was rapidly spreading In tho Church
OF England during the childhood and 20 nth OF
Bartholomew Wesley. who was educated at the
University OF Oxford. where he pursued tho
study OF physic and divinity. Tho young
lady to whom was written tho letter of
which John Wesley speaks was tho daugh-
ter Of Sir Henry Cooley OF Kildare, Ire
land. Little is known Of Bartholomew fam.
lily or personal history after his marIia until
104o, when he was installed rector Of Caphers-
ton In his native county. Ten years afterward
he was made rector OF Charmouth also, tho two
villages being about mile apart. Bartholo-
new Wesley held these rectories during all the
wars OF tho commonwealth, tho career OF Oliver
Cromwell AS Protector. the brief per.o during
which his son Richard icignod. and the first
two years OF the reign OF Charles II. He was
one OF the two thousand Puritan min
listers elected In 1852. under the Act
OF Uniformity. After his election Bar
tholnmew Wesley continued to 1.-Two In Char
mouth for many wears preaching privately
when he could. and administering medicine
when occasion demanded. In book published
In 1904 the author calls Wesley the puny
parson OF the place, ana most devoted friend
70 tho PARTICLES" l. G., rcgicidcs. Concerning
Oh" epithct puny. one Of John wesley's oiog-
raphors remarked; "All the wesleys for 800
years were OF small stature. ranging from five
feet four to five feet six inches" bartholomew
Wesley had but ono son. John. born In Devon
shire In 1880. Like his father. he was educated
At Oxford. where he applied himself espe.
cially to tho study OF the Oriental languages
Tho most learned men among the Puri-
tsns were thcn congregAted Ia that uni
vors!ty: among tie students were Will
liam Penn, DR.. South, Sir Christopher
Wren. and Whitby. the commentator. Pre-
vious to his induction into the ministry this
John Wesley was obliged to pass an exnmina-
tion before Oliver Cromwelrs triers. He was
Installed four months before Cromwell di.d,
and married the daughter OF ono OF tho mem.
bers OF tho Westminster Assembly. When tho
the throne. John Wesley bubmtted to taking
the oath Of allegiance. lie was. however
brought before tho Bishop OF Bristol on q
charge that ho would not read tho liturgy. This
WAS not the end OF his troubles. Toward tho
close OF the year tho ConvocAtion revised the
prayer book. and In August 1902, tho use OF IL
WAS made binding. There were already acts OF
Parliament. In pursuance of which this John
Wesley might have been expelled, but, for
reasons unascertained, his opponents In the
parish waited for other means OF securing
his election. Two years after Charles II. WAS
restored John Wesley was committed to Jail on
che charge Of refusing 10 use the pray or book,
and. like his father. no was eventually oustsd
from church and rsctory under the Act of Uni.
formity. Although John Wesley WAS the father
OF numerous family. yet. for more than a
century. the names Of but two Of his
children were known: recently tho names
OF hvo and tho dates OF tho birth
of tho first four have been ascertained;
Samuel being the fourth. born Dec. 10. 1862.
As tho Act of Uniformity went into effect on
the gath of August. Samuel Wesley was born
four months after his parents were made home.
loss and. when no was but nlno weeks old, thoy
removed to Melcombr, bnt the corporation OF the
town made All order against their settlement
therein. Driven out by these proceedings john
Wesley and his family became Wanderers,
going from place To place. 4" In all OF which the
Presbyterlans, Independents. and BnptIsts
treated him with great kindness" A friend at
last offered John Wesley house In Preston rent
free. where, with the exception OF n brief ab.
sence. he dwelt until his death. While residing
al Preston he endeavored to preach regularly
but owikg to tho Oxford Five Milo act, he was
often disturbed, and four tiinos imprisoned.
Whom John Wesley died. his father, Bartholo-
new. was st!ll living. but, as Southey observes,
the loss OF this. his only son, brouga, his gray
hairs In sorrow to tho grave.
John Wrsley's son, samuel. was 10 years OF
ago when his father died. SRmuel's mother
clio wife OF John, was the youngest daughter Of
John White. u Puritan divine OF great learning.
u perpetual fellow OF New College, Oxford. and
u frcnuont preacher there. lie WAS prosecuted
in 1880 10y Archbishop LaUd for preaching
against AimniRnism and the ceremonie, OF the