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


episode of which frequent mention has
been made by the public press and by all
, the biographers of Wesley-his refusal to
| admit Mrs Sophia Williamson, nee Hop,
| key, to the Holy Communion without evil
| dence of her contrition and repentance
| Mrs Williamson was a niece of Mr.. Cos
! ten, a leading official of the province He
was greatly embittered against Wesley
! because of his rigid enforcement Of
church discipline He doubtless lived to
regret his persecution of this godly man,
| whose praise for a century past has been
| in all the churches of Chrstendom, while
| he himself, not long after Wesley's de-
parture from Georgia, was wrecked in
character and worldly estate. Into the
| details of that grevious scandal it is not
| necessary here to enter. Long since It
| should have been consigned to oblivion.
| The incident served, however, in provi-
| dental way, to hasten Wesley's leaVe-tak-
| ing of Georgia, and to restore him to
| England Suffice it to say that he gave
! Costen, his bitter enemy, personal notice
! of his proposed departure, and posted that
notice in the public square of Savannah.
| He had waited for three months for his
enemies to make good their accusations,
and at eight sittings of the court had de-
manded a trial.
Early in December, 1877 after immense
| toll and innumerable hardships, subsist-
ing much of the time on bread and water,
he set out for Port Royal on foot, in COM
pany with three companions. Beaufort
was their objective point, where, after
tedious journey, they arrived weary and
footsore. The English minister of that
parish received Wesley with great kind
ness, and, as he says, gave him "a lively
taste of English hospitality" From Beau
fort he took boat for Charleston. S. c.,
and thence sailed for England arriving
almost in the same hour Whitfield depart
ed on his outward voyage to Georgia. A
personal interview between these dstn-
guished bosom friends would have been
very desirable to both of them, but this
was not practicable.
Upon Whtfields arrival in Savannah he
ascertained that a great reaction had al
ready occurred in public sentiment in re-
gard to the Costen affair. Wesley's friends
were largely in the majority. and his enc
mics were Teproached by all the better
class of citizens, for their persistent perse-
cution of such an eminent man. After
careful study of the situation and of the
ministry of Wesley in Savannah, Whit
field has this to say:
THE good Wesley has done in America
is ineXpressible. He has laid a foundation
in America which / hope neither men nor
devils will ever be able TO shake"
This is the testimony OF capable wit
ness who was on the spot. with no motive
to misrepresent the facts, and it is an
overwhelming refutatiOn of statements
sometimes urged that Wesleys preaching
in Georgia was in some degree a failure
These latter statements were an after
thought with later critics, who thus
sought to disparage his subsequent work
in the great Wesleyan re-
formation, of which some OF
the most distinguished English
churchmen. such as Isaac Taylor. au-
thor of THE Natural History Of Enthus-
iasm," and Robert Southey. the poet lau-
reate, spoke in terms Of high commenda-
ton. Bishop McTyelre likewise testihes
that Mr.. Wesleys latest and best biosra-
pher has also said:
"Who could have imagined that in ono
hundred and thirty years this huge will
derness should have been transformed into
one Of the greatest nations Of the eartlh
and that the Methodsm begun In Savan-
nah should pervade the continent from the
Atlantic strand to the Golden Gate OF the
Pacific, and that. enthusiastically consider
cd, IL had become the mightiest power eA-
listing within those limits?"
IN regard to the outcome Of the persecu-
ton of Wesley We gather from his journal
published after his return TO London, ms
statement: During the afternoon before
his departure he was approached by we
recorder OF Savannah. who Informed MN
that he must not leave the province. unul
he had given bond In fifty pounds sterlinG
and In addition furnished bail 10 answer
Mr.. Williamson's charge. Wesley re-
spondcd; Il have given him every oppor-
tunity 10 make good his accusation. buL
he refused 60 do so. and now SIR, he con-
tinued with emphasis and frmness'
must Insist that. as an oflclal. you nave
treated me and the trustees Of the colony
very H. ] shall neither give bond nor pan.
You know your business and kho"
mine"
The same afternoon" he adds. 81 SHOOK
the dust Off my feet and left Savannah
after preaching there one year ana nlns
months. not as I ought. but az was ahle.
The show made by his enemies Of pu'-
pose 10 intercept him was o shallow pre-
text. and Us now 80 regarded.
Some one recalls the fact that Ga.
Gushing would never wear dress slt