Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-20

| November 1, 177S.
1t is now substantially the same in it's
| leading features as in the days of John
| Wesley. The portico in front was erect
| ed in 1915. For thirty years there were
| only two rows of seats in the gallery
The space behind was a level platform
| generally filed on Sundays. No one was
| allowed to claim a seat or pew as his
own, although large numbers paid the
| seat rents regularly. Down to the time
of Wesley's death, the sexes sat apart
| The founder insisted on this arrange
ment, and although many remonstran-
| ces were made to him by trustees and
others, he continued inexorable.
| The work of renovation and restora-
| ton has become necessary at various
! times and through various causes, but
| it is most unlikely that any further
changes will be made for many wears
| to come. At three different periods.
1854 1879 and 1891, the alterations and
i improvements became somewhat extern
sive in their character. In 1879 the
building was partially destroyed by fire
but was subsequently restored to as
| near its original form as possible
Inc chapel stands back from City road
some forty yards. In the front space
there are trees of large growth, planted
since Mr.. Wesley's days, which in sum
mer almost hide the view of the chanel
leafy branches give most grateful shade
Passing through the entrance gates the
/ Zine bronze statue of Wesley is imrnedi-
ately in front. 1t is the work of the emf
nent sculptor, Mr.. John Adams Acton.
A little to the right is the monument
erected in 1870 in memory of Susanna
Wesley, the mother of the Wesleys, who
lies inferred in Bunhill Fields. ON the
opposite side Of City road.
The greatest names of the NTatbodiet
Church are craven upon the memorials
which literally cover the walls of the
edifice. The burial grounds are also rich
in tradition. This was the first burial
place possessed by the Methodists, and
from the burial register it appears that
no less than 5452 persons have been in
tered there.
The chapel divides the burying space
into two parts, and the greatest inter
est centers in the portion at the rear of
the chapel Here is John Wesley's grave
and tomb. The tomb is modest, unpre-
tentious erection, built in 1910 ''by his
sons and successors in the Christian
ministry, the Methodist conference, in
| token of their filial admiration, rever-
ence and love-" Close by Wesley's grave
is that of the biblical scholar and philo-
logiSt, DR.. Adam Clarke. A singular but
appropriate device is cut into the stone,
| a burning candle, and on a band encircl-
ing the rays OF light the motto, "Alios
serViens consumer Tin serving others L
am myself consumed).
John Wesley was small of stature as
were also his two close companions, his
brother Charles and the Rev. Thomas
Coke. One Of tine biographers says
These three little men made a great
change in the moral world-John Yves
| ley, the founder Of one Of the largest
churches in Christendom; Charles Yves
| ley, the world renowned Christian poet,
and Thomas Coke. the great founder of
| modern missions. In many a Methodist
| household today may be seen an old
engraving of the three, arm in arm,
| after the manner in which Du Maurier
| has pictured to us his three mus
keteers of the brush"-Taffy, the Laird
and Little Billee
| The dedication services in the old
Wesley house partook of the nature of
a good, old-fashioned love feast, testi-
| flying to the catholicity of John Wesley
and the religious movement which he
| inaugurated. Dean Farrar DR.. Monroe
| Gibson, a Presbyterian; DR.. Clifford, a
Baptist, and others Of other sects spoke
| for the cause. The dean of Canterbury
said that what Christianity needs is
unity, not uniformity. He came to give
| his humble admiration to the great and
glorious work done by John Wesley, to
whom the church of England owed a
lasting debt Of gratitude.