The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-06

munion, and the Ordinance of Baptism,
where 1t was desired. During the week
he devoted no little time to pastoral vis-
tation. and to the management of school,
where he taught only advanced pupils.
As to his habits of living, he might almost
have shamed a Franciscan friar, subsist-
ing, as he did, on bread and water a great
deal of the time.
Meanwhile Wesley began to provide for
the Sunday school instruction of the chill
dren of the parish. His devotion to chill
dren at times almost amounted to infat-
uation Children were likewise equally at
tached to him, as shown in their inter
course with him. Both on week days and
Sabbaths he gave no little attention to
educational work. AS a preliminary labor
on the Sabbath before the evening ser
vice, he required them to convene in the
church. at which time he catechised them
thoroughly and furnished them with ad-
ditional teaching from the Bible itself. In
the present Wesley Memorial church, in
Savannah, Ca, there is a Sunday school
room into which hundreds of children
crowd for Sunday instruction. The origi-
nal school was less in number, but ii was
unquestionsbly the first Sunday school in
the world. When taught by Wesley 1t
numbered between sixty and seventy-five
scholars, but from all accounts there were
few, IL any Indian boys in his earlier
classes A very high authority, Sir Charles
Reed, NJ. p, Ii. D., of England, is
clearly of the opinion that this Sunday
school was the first founded in the world
and that it antedates by a half century
the secular instruction of Robert Raikes
at Gloucester, England, as well as the
first school in America upon Raikes' plan
which was established in the city of New
York. In support of these views Mr.. Reed
quotes from the history of Georgia by
the late venerable Bishop Stevens Of
Pennsylvania, who, some fifty years ago.
had charge of the parish of Christ church
in this same city of Savannah.
At short intervals Wesley now began to
extend his work. and visited the Mora
vians In bingham county, and likewise
the Salzburgers at EbeneZer. For a num-
Der of years there was no church at Ebe-
nezer, so that Wesley addressed them IN
the groves, which were Gods first tenn
pies" To them he spoke in the German,
their native, dialect. Some of the most
striking of his adventures were his oc-
casional visits to his brother Charles at
Frederick, a village on st. Simon's Island,
about 100 miles below Savannah, where
Charles Wesley and Mr.. Ingham conducted
a mission school and likewise a day school.
John Wesley's preaching at this point
was highly effective, where he brought
into the church a goodly number Of
converts for so small a population. Near
Frederick there was a majestic and wide
spreading live oak, which Is still an his
toric tree. Beneath the bOughs of this
tree, since known as the Wesley oak, Wes-
ley was wont to address a rustic audience
made up of whites. with a group of In
dams from the adjoining mainland. or
tentmes in his flights Of oratory, empha-
sized as they were 10y the breakers on the
island beach. he thrilled his hearers, say,
age and civilized, by his masterful al-
peals. This ancient tree still stands, A
n Of. ,HssI 81
lanta exposition a branch Of Il was one
Of the most interesting exhibits on the
grounds.
At the time of Wesley's ministry the en-
tire population of the colony Of Georgia
principally lndians-numbe red about 5000.
He did not, of course, reach them all
his main battle-ground being the parish
of Christ church, Savannah. The first
impression of Mr.. Wesley was most fav-
oraDle 20 the man and his ministry. The
Indians regarded him with awe mingled
with curiosity; but the Epglsh-spoakin
inhabitants who were piously inclined
hailed him as a power for good that would
have a harmonizng influence on the bick-
erings and strifes Of the community How
ever as his work proceeded, he gave Of
Tense TO many by the rigid enforcement Of
church discipline and the unqualified con-
demnation Of all that seemed sinful 70
him. In Frank Wcldons History of sa-
Nahhah - related that Mr., Wesley,
observing much coolness In the behavior
OF one VINO had protested friendship for
him. demanded the reason, and was an
swered IN this wise: II like nothing YOU
do. All your sermons are satires upon
particular persons, therefore | will never
hear you more. and all people are Of my
mind for we won't hear ourselves abus-
cd Besides. they say we are Protestants;
but as FOR you, they can't tell what re.
lIuinu Won are of. They npNgr hoard nf
what TO make OF itl" on the whole. how.
ever. the earnest thoughtful people were
with him. and by them he was greatly
loved and appreciated The dlssenters
were those whose way Of life he had con.
demned with unmistakable words OF re-
proof
II was during wesley's stay IN savan.
nah that there occurred that remarkable