Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-04

sacrament and induced two other students.
Robert Kirkham and William Morgan, to
associate with him. Later George white
field, James HerF1y and twelve others,
whose names are given by most Of Wes-
aey's biographies. besides a few who can
not now be ascertalned. affiliated with
duct excited ridicule; their frankness in re-
buking SIN developed personal hostility:
they were spoken Of cohtemptueusly as the
Holy Club Bible Bigots," Bible
Moths" the Cody Club" 'Supererogation
Men," '.SacramentaEsts,' ''Methodists."
and, as Mr.. Wesley observes In his jour
nal, were sometimes dignified with the
name OF Enthusiasts or the Reform
ford Methodists. The name Methodist"
appears to have occurred Systematically In
secular history and In earlier Christianity.
influence of His Lie.
The life Of John Wesley was a continued
protest against the evils in morals and the
religious iaxity OF the time. He observed
the Wednesday and Friday fasts tasting
no food TIL in the afternoon. He walked
twenty-five miles day in hot weather. as
well as in cold, and frequently. with his
brother, would read ag they walked for a
distance of ten or twelve miles.
He and his colleagues carried ascetIcism
and devotion to study so far as nearly to
ruin their health. He set apart an hour
or two every day for prayer, partook of
much more devoted and prayed with in
tense feeling: visited prisons. gave away
all the money he could obtain, cut off not
only superfluities. but many things deemed
by others' necessities until by failing
health, and especially by severe and FREE
quent hemorrhages. he was brought to the
gates of death. Naturally they were much
opposed. Morgan died prematurely and
Wesley was charged with being the cause
of it by recommending excessive fasting.
He succeeded, however, in making SO plain
a statement as to convince the father Of
Morgan that he was not blameworthy.
About 172S DR.. John Burton OF Oxford
took great interest in the colonization of
Georgia and urged John Wesley to become
a missionary. The origin Of that common
wealth was equally romantic and phtlan-
plant a new colony south Of Carolina to
be titled by British and Irish 1abOrers
without the dangerous help Of black
amoors" In those days men were hanged
for thefts, and in Great Britain on the av-
erage 1900 men were annually imprisoned
for debt. It was possible that for a small
debt man should be condemned to prison
for life. This attracted the attention OF
James Oglethorpe, a member Of the British
parliament, educated, vigorous and q bril-
liant soldier, who In 1928 planned an asy-
lum in America where men would not be
approached nor embarrassed On account or
previous poverty and slavery would be
On the 9th OF June, 1882. George II grant
ed charter to Ogletherpe and his associ-
ates. Parliament promoted the scheme by
persons contributed. and the Society for
Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts
took a deep interest in it. In November,
1882, Oglethorpe embarked with 40 emf
grants. Thus Georgia was settled.
The oEietherpe Colony.
The population Of Georgia prior to the ar
rival Of John Wesley and his companions
had been made up by four companies-the
first of Englishmen the second of Luther
ans from Saitzburg In Germany, the third
of Scotch highlanders and the fourth OF
Moravians. February 9 a new company OF
800 emigrants, conducted by Oglethorpe,
landed in Georgia, among them certain
Moravians and John and Charles Wesley.
airy to the English. but an apostle to the
Indians. Charles was secretary to Ogel-
thorpe.
On the voyage the strictness of Wesley
and those who sympathized with him was
probably never surpassed. From to s
in the morning they prayed privately; from
until they read the Bible together; at
they breakfasted: at had public prayers
and expounded the lesson for the day; from
to IL John Wesley studied German and
Charles wrote sermons; at noon they met
for prayer; and at dined from dinner I'M
til they read or gave special instruction
to those willing to receive 1t; at they had
evening prayer and expounded the lesson;
from to was spent In private prayer,
and from to each read in his own
cabin to three detachments Of English pas
Sc myers; at Wesley Joined with the Mo-
ravians in their service; at they met In
private to exhort each other, and between
and 10 they retired.
Early in 17yS John Wesley returned to
England, and his subsequent history is
we'll known