New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-03
THE SPIRIT OF EARLY METHODIST.
\ piSflSS.'1N OF JOHN W bSLfi - ~ III N'@ NV
ARD Axp KNOWLEDGE OF sciEH-
TiFIC MATTERS

TIFiC MATTERS.
To The Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: NV attention has been called 10 an eat-
torinl IN las. Sundays issue OF your paper entitled
The New Me,hodisin.
Tho ton. ~ tho article is friendly toward the
alcoholism o, to-day. but OF Ia references TO
me spirit OF early Methodi>m quite 'v.dc
NJ he mark
For Instance. IN. writer says: Fancy John
Wesley or C;corg. whitfield aat,ng the preachers
OF tho nascent Methodlsm 20 meet together IN
order to de uss the relation u the Church to the
though and lie OF the pcpp,. 90 affected by cur
rent and rcicn,ifc and literary teachings! Tie
thing IL neon, cvrb.". ara Ned i'f many N'"lF
after n. dnys Of Wesley the attitude OF Method
Ism toward the educated thought II the day was
ono OF profound Indifference II not Of hostility
Now. the attitude Of early Methcism toward the
educa,ed thought OF the day is rot question o.
spscuiation: II IL purely and simply question OF
fact And you will pardon me FOR saying ina; the
facts Justify no such statements ms are herein
put forth.
John Wrsley's attitude toward current and 1T
erary and scientific thought WAS most cordial ana
annrccia,ive He greatly de?lored IN. lack OF
scientific knowledge among the English people
With q view to supplying this lack he set about
to translate into tho English the natural phloso-
ply Of the distinguished ma ,ur iIst and philosopher
Professor Charles Bonnet. OF Geneva. TO which lie
added his own notes and comments. This WORK
can bo easily found In the libraries, anc bears the
title "Wesey's Philosophy" In the preface ne
freely criticises the best-known scientific WORKS
extnnt at tho time, and tells why they each fail
10 supply the need Of the day in knowledge as 70
scientific matters. In explanation OF mis- own
method In charging and explaining the Work. ne
says: TT VIII be easily observed .n"' e"uo"'o'
throughout not to account for things. out only
10 descr.be them ! undertake barely 70 set down
what appears In nature; not the cause OF mos
Appearances Tho facts lie within tho reach Oh
and the c~",ss are Ire
remote. That things are 40 we know WIN cc''A"
~. bu, why they are 80 We know not"
can IN. mos, fs.tidious OF the scientific men CT
,h h', mis-,
',"' =, ,,,. uo-, ,h.ro Ia ono chapter
on Tho Continuation OF the Gradual frcsIcssi'h
., po,n.." Their. are some hints in this chapter
Oh pc'"s. =, woaIev,s works which af
ana n o,ner for the at least
he grasped soe OF the man nn.rI,v u nnwn tba,
Of evolution. 1t may hot nc sen1 1 ,J, ~
within me inhn ihere has been rather spirited
discussion as 10 whether Wesley was not In realty
an evoIutionlst The question Is 81 mootea One me
Again Me'n9d mn.Y Was so ai tssehnss It
placed tremendous emphasis upon inc nivlie s. hs
OF .r,sn, Which IL gave TO The human side
TO this very day English sociology In prasHr nn
appmcA,"oih u m .e "a f. received from early
Methodism. John Wesley opened and succeSsiu ay
conoucteo .ns nas e reiIr,os orsanizaton and
he antedat ted the loan association. much IKE ne
one tnauSurc!ed oy inc c, rev nv more than one
hundred Years !iisory has as I[c ri shafesbury