Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-04
WESLEY ANNIVERSARY
/. -
Celebration Proposed by the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church.
BALTIMORE CONFERENCE MOVEMENT
incidents in the Career Of Famous
Church Leader.
HIS WORK IN A M RIGA
BALTIMORE CONFERENCE MOVEMENT
HIS WORK IN AN ERICA

Baltimore conference Of the NJ. E. Church
at Hagerstown, Md, which adjourned yes
terday. for the celebration of the two hum
dredth anniversary of the birth of John
Wesley. the founder of Methodism. This
movement, 1t is believed, is certain to meet
with hearty and favorable response from
every conference of the denomination in
the world.
While the name Of John Wesley Is IA
mfIfar in every NJ. E. household in Chris
tendon, not many are familiar with the
events which led to the founding of the
great denomination, and still less are people
of 1.-The present day conversant with the
facts of Wesley's early life.
One of the biographers of Wesley the
great missionary, who did much evangelical
work in the United States about $50 years
ago. in speaking of the religious condition
of the people Of England during the CEN
fury and half previous to Wesley:s birth,
says:
Episcopal was abolished in 1912, and a
year later the famous Westminster assem-
bly,, was convened by parffa ment- which
commanded 121 of the ablest theologians
with thirty lay assessors, to assist in set
thing the principles. ritual and government
of the Church of England. The majority
were Presbyterians. There were a few
Episcopalians, some Independents and four
commissioners from the general assembly
of the Scottish Church, asking the West
minister assembly and parliament to make
a solemn league and covenant to establish
uniform religion throughout the three
Kingdoms.
Differences Arise.
Within two years serious differences
arose between the assembly and parlia-
ment The English Presbyterians proposed
to establish Presbyterianism throughout
England, with no liberation of dissenters
81 oier6t tIa itch,
nation, they sent petitions in the name Of
the lord mayor, aldermen and common
council OF London. This divided the COM
mons, as the Independents and other dis
senters sent up counter-petitions; and the
debate in the assembly waxed so hot that
the Independents and others withdrew. Ex-
traordtnary resolutions followed and the
country divided into SectS, of which Ed
wards, contemporary author, mentions
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., Brownists, MILF
naires, Antinomians, Anabaptists, Liber-
tines, Familists, Enthusiasts, Seekers, Per-
fectionsts, Socinians, Arfans, Anti-Trfnt-
tarians, Anti-Scripturists and Skeptfcs.
Notwithstanding the fact that Charles L
was a prisoner, he refused to consent to
the proposed new forms of government
Parliament fell under the control of the
army. consisting principally OF dtssenters,
who took active part in the discussions and
allowed dissent from the then established
religion, Presbyterianism- But when the
Scots invaded England to rescue Charles l,
different directions, the Presbyterians
seized the opportunity to enforce their
doctrines and usages. Finally parliament
impeaehe0 and executed the king. put not
until he had reduced the government 10
deSpotiSm.
oliver Cromwell during the protectorate
offered free liberation to all sects except
Catholics and Episcopalians. but forbade
the clergy to NEEDLE with politics. For
some years the right of ordaining parish
ministers had been exclusively possessed
by the Presbyterians. Cromwell appointed
a board of thirty triers, composed of Pres
byterians and Independents and two or
three Baptists. to examine and license
preachers throughout England and lay
commissioners in every county with 1uil
power to check scandalous 1mpudent ana
incompetent niuist ers and schoolmasters,"
and parliament confirmed these ordinances.
Passing over many events during the reign
of several succeeding soyereigns or Eng
land the biographer goes on to say that
John Wesley, the founder Of Methodism.
vas born at Epworth rectory in 1903. and
that in a fire which destroyed the regis
tiers of the parish of k.pwortn John " es-
ley then six years old, was imported. ana
his escape is one Of the most extraordi-
nary deliverances from imminent death on
record When Samuel Wesley, his father,
settled at Epworth the Inhabitants OF the
place generally were given TO prof1igacy,
and his denunciationS of their sins led GER
tain 'lewd fellows Of the baser sort to
attempt to burn the rectory. Twice they
thought they had succeeded, but not till
the third effort wars their diaboiieal purpose
ACCOMPLISHED. At midnight pieces of burn
ing wood fell on the bed of one of the
children and scorchcd her feet. cry
of fire from the street at that moment
aroused Mr.. Wesley. Discovering instant
" that 1t was his own house, he awoke
lis wife! and taking the eldest girl, burst
open the nursery door and called the maid
who was sleeping there with five children.
She caught the youngest, bidding the
others follow. Three ebcyed hut John was
rot awakened, and in tie excitement was
overlooked; but when al Were thought to
be safe ne was heard crying in the nur
sCry. His father ran TO the stairs, but
they would not bear the weight; he fell
upon his knees in the bah and commended
the soul of the child to God. John, awak-
ened by the light, thought 1t was day and
called to the maid to t3ke him up. AS no
one came he opened the curt aims. and, see
ing flames. ran to the door, but, not being
able to escape. climbed upon chest which
stood near the window and was then seen
from the yard No ladder could be OBJ
was hoisted upon the shoulders of another,
reached the window and rescued the boy.
A moment later the whole roof fell in.
For eleven years John WeSley's chief in
structor was his mother. and her system
of training was afterward so highly val
ued by him that in tI32 he induced her,
with much difficulty, to write full account
OF it.
His Mothers Pledge.
The preservation of Johns life led his
mother to devote special pains to him. In
her private meditatIons under the head Of
son John" are these words: 81 do intend
to be more particularly careful of the soul
of this child. that Thou hast so mercifully
provided for, than ever I have been; that
l may do my endeavor to instill into his
mind the principles of Thy true religion
and virtue Lord, give me grace to do it,
sincerely and prhdentfy,, and bless my at
tempts with good success
From the beginning he would do nothing
without rejecting it's fitness and pro-
priety. but argued about everything. In
this particular there is a similarity be-
tween the childhood Of John Wesley and
that OF William e Gladstone, who was
also so devout in spirit that his father adj
nitted him to the communion table when
he was only eight years old
An attack of smallpox when he was be-
tween eight and nine years of age. intenst-
fled John Wesleys religious feeling: de-
veloping such patience that his mother
wrote to his father that he had borne the
disease like Christian. In the year TIA
he entered Charterhouse School In Lon
don. where pupils were poorly fed. He
suffered special priyations, as the older
BOYS had habit of aDDroDriating the share