Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-03
RARE OLD BOOK FOUND.
Pamphlet Published by John and
Charles Wesley in London.

From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat
An original copy of the first printed
"Rules for the Society of the People Called
Methodists" was unearthed recently in this
city, and, as 1t was published by John and
Charles Wesley over their own signatures
in 174S. and contains the first nucleus of
the literature of the Methodist church,
which now numbers over 5000,000 men,
bers in the United States, worshipping in
5000 religious edifices of their own, it is
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 fall
ing to pieces with age and handling. The
paper Is yellow and the print unreadable
in places from the stains of time. The
first paragraphs are as follows:
In the latter end of the year 1893 eight
or ten persons came to London, who ap-
earnestly groaning for redemption. They
desired Gas did two or three more the
next day) that l 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
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 them (for
their number increased daily l gave those
advices from time to time which l judged
most needful for them. and we always
able to their several necessities.
"Second-This was the rise of the unit
ed society. First in London and then in
other places. Such a society is none other
than a company of men having the form
ana seeking the power of godliness; united
in prayer 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 1t may be more easily dis
cerned whether they are indeed working
out their own salvation. each society IS
divided into smaller companies, 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 leaders
are then set forth, together with Il list
of the occasions of temptation that beset
mankind. Prominent among the latter IS IS
liquors or drinking them, unless in cases
of extreme necessity" and further on in
its quaint verbiage the exhortation warns
ing what we know Is not for the glory
of Cod as the putting on of gold or costly
| reading those books that do not tend to
the knowledge or love of God: softness
| and needless self-indulgence: laying up
probability of paying"
Although most of the pronouns. in the
document are in the first person singular.
it is signed: u. and c. Wesley" The
date is May /, 1743, and at the bottom is
the imprint: Printed by T Cordeaux, ii
Il was just about this date that the $50
| ciety of People Called Methodists'' oh
! 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 Wesleys lived in an
! old house at the rear. They. conducted a
! sort of religious bookstore also in one OF
! the rooms of the foundry. The church
was always known as THE Foundry" and
was never more pretentious than a bare
| walled. comfortless room. with rough
| wooden benches, unon which sat the con-
| women.
"The exact regularity of their lives -
| says a chronicler, ''occasioned a young
! gentleman of ChTist's Church college to
/ say Here is a new set of Methodists
| sprung up.' alludng. it is said, to some
! ancient physicians who We're so called y
| And in this manner the church was found
| ed and the immense organization of united
| worshipers which we have to-day came
| to he called "Methodists."