The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-23
JOHN WESLEY AND HIS CHURCH.

The bi-centennial celebration of the birth
of John Wesley is an event Of more than
local or UNCONVENTIONAL interest. In a
much broader sense than he meant when
he said ''the world is my parish" his life
has affected the whole world. 1t Is not ex-
travagant to say that since the days of
Luther no other mans life has so affected
the religious thought and life of all peo-
pies as have the life and work of John
Wesley. The man himself was a striking
illustration of the popular opinion that a
mans character begins to be formed at least
two hundred years before he is born. He
came of a remarkable combination of dis
tinguished ancestors. He was the seven
teenth child of family of nineteen, whose
mother came of family of Nonconformist
clergymen extending backward at least
two hundred years. She herself, of her own
choice. in early life attached herself to
the Established Church, and soon after
became the wife of Samuel Wesley. the
young rector of the Epworth Church,
devout and loyal priest in the Church of
England, whose ancestors for several gen.
erations had been clergymen some of whom
were churchmen of the strictest type, and
others at times in prison because they
would not conform to everything required
of clergymen in the state church. Thus
for two hundred years his paternal and
maternal ancestors had been cultured peo-
pie. with no bent to following blindly any
leader His father and mother were in
their notions extremely high church, and
the son was brought up in that faith. being
educated for the priesthood. His scholar
ly attainments were of high order in ev-
cry branch that was deemd important in
the priesthood, and at an early age he was
ordained a priest in the Church of Eng
land The most striking characteristics
of his early ministry were his struggles
for a holy life through methodical fastings
and almsgiving. When about thirty years
of age. at the earnest solicitation of Goy-
ernor Oglethorpe. of Georgia. he came to
America as a missionary to the Indians.
but he devoted most of his time to the
white settlers, whom he wished to govern
in matters ecclesiastical after the fashion
of church work in England. but the colo
nists would not submit and he returned to
England in about three years to take up
his life work in a way he had never
thought of.
On his voyage to Europe he made the ac-
quaintance of some Moravian missionaries.
who led him to higher Christian life than
he had ever known or sought. Through
| them he learned that it was the right and
| privilege of Christian to have such sense
| of pardon as to be ever conscious of his
| fellowship with God, to dispel all fear of
| death. and to lead to life Of joy and peace.
| On his return to England he began to
| preach this doctrine. and it may be said
that that differentiated mis- preaching from
| the preaching Of his times. Moravians had
| long been preaching it, and il had been a
| characteristic of Luther's teaching from the
| beginning of his reformation, but soon, for
and ecclesiastical standing of the preacher
| and his great culture and talent brought i,
| into notice as il had never been before
| and such has been the growth of this doc
trine and experience that it permeates al
most every form of belief and may be said
| to be the consensus OF the entire Christian
| Church. however much men may differ ir
| dogma and creed.
Coincident with this return to the doctrine
and experience Of the early church came
another force that led the world largely
over TO Mr.. Wesley He was by birth, edu
cation and early environments among the
highest of high churchmen. but in a way ht
had not planned he was led first to tolerate
and to encourage what at first he called
lay preaching. Unsought by him and in
spite Of his protest there thus grew ur
among those he had led to Christ amons
the uneducated peasantry of his times mer
OF gifts and graces. who could preach Il
their associates with the best of results
When he told his mother his purpose Il
stop lay preaching. she. although
formerly as high church as II wa.
possible to be. dissuaded him, anC
lay preaching became the principal preach
ing of early Wesleyanism. thus introduc
ing the most effective agency for its spreat
through the world.
In l766 the frst Methodist sermon wa,