The Washington times., 1903-06-28


Samuel Wesley and Bishop Potter, con-
versed with each other in the Latin
tongue; met each night for consulta-
tiOn before supper; visited the prison.
ers daily; read prayers in the jaiIs,
and preached to the inmates at regular
intervals, administering communion
once a month. Their religion was
formed on the prayer-book. and next
to the Bible they valued the books OF
homilies or sermons.
1t is eminently unfair to charge them
with being morbid. They took recrea-
tion, they were thoroughly in touch with
the school life and Wesley himself was
not above little carnaI pleasure in
a game OF cards. They did not favor
asceticism, in fact. Wesley was cx-
act and avarieious Of his time by ma
ture. He rose at A; at morning
and evening he spent an hour In prayer.
His diary and private accounts were
kept with scrupulous care.
On June IL, 1874, he preached the
famous "Jacobite sermon" before the
University. having taken the precaution
to submit it to the vice chancellor for
approval before delivering IL.
The Visit to America.
After his fathers death and the meet
ing with oglethorpe he and his brother
Charles embarked with Ingraham De
la Motto for Georgia on October II. 1875.
On board were twenty-six Moravians
with newly ordained bishop. During
the voyage he learned the Importance
of evangelical doctrine and he was
greatly impressed by the simplicity
and solemnity Of their ritual.
John Wesley looked upon the whole
OF the State of Georgia as his province.
He sought to evangelize every prison
within its limits. and during his two
years stay in this country his mission,
brief and troubled as It was. filled
mems minds with a new sense of the
reality OF religion.
Worn with his Iabors in the new
world and somewhat cast down in spirit
at the lukewarmness of the people
there, he sailed for England December
%. 1887.
On his return TO the mother country
he met Peter Boiler, a German min
lister. from whom he imbibed his doc
trine of saving faith" He dates his
conversion on May "a. at a society
meeting in Aldergate Street, yet there
Is evidence Of first quality that this was
but step of the way. After short
! trip TO Germany where his Moravian
/ learning was increased he returned to
England and drew up rules for the So
cieties Of that faith. But he soon struck
out for himself
The First Methodist Chapel Opened.
/ What was actually the first Method
ist chapel was opened on May 12. 1739
in the town of Bristol. December "a.
1743, saw the founding OF the first
United Society" formed by Wesley
himself, and consisting at first of eight
or ten persons who agreed to meet
every Thursday evening. From that
day Methodism was a living, growing
organism and the history Of its founder
is involved in the history OF It's crea-
tiOn. He severed himself from his Mo-
ravian friends and published his free
grace sermon which dissoeiated him
from Calvinism.
Standing thus clear OF Moravian and
Calvinistic allies. John Wesley deyel-
oped by degrees the organism of his
own belief. He formed by degrees a
strong band OF lay preachers from the
| laity. These men were to be members
OF the Anglican Church, but their ser
mons we're not to take the place Of
church services. During the period be-
tween 1744 and 1851 the religion he es-
tablished grew by slow but sure de-
Blttb. ne pIeHcueu frequently and his
sermons were full OF Biblical quota
tions His style was clear and his
words Of the purest English. There
was no unnecessary padding. his ser
mons were all bone and extremely
well-developed muscle. II made small
difference to Wesley where he preached.
The character Of the man is shown by
the fact that he delivered one of his
best utterances standing on his father s
| tombstone
Married Life.
February 2. 1850. he married Mary
Varyeille. a lady seven years his Jun
lor, originally a domestic servant. but
then the widow OF a wealthy London
merchant. II was an unfortunate mar
riage by all accounts. as Charles Wes
ley said. Mrs. Wesley seems to have
been somewhat shrewish. She separ-
ated from him aftsg tgenty-six years