The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-02

From the New York Tribune.
The name of Methodist was applied at
Oxford to John Wesley and his brother
Charles and their associates, who, while
in the High church branch of the Church
of England, had shown marked strictness
of life and devoutness of character. This
name of Methodist" had been in use
hundred years before, when "Anabap-
lists and plain packstaff Methodists"
were spoken Of The name was also APP
piled to Non-conformists in the time of
Annesley, a generation before Wesley.
and to some calvinistic diyines at the
same time that It was first applied to the
weseys at oxford in 1929.
John Wesley was the fifteenth child Of
the Rev. Samuel Wesley, rector of Ep-
worth, where the boy narrowly escaped
losing his life in a fire at the age of
years. His mother began his education,
and he went to the famous Charter
house school in London when years
old. When II he entered Christ Church
college, oxford, and spent five years
there. He early showed the desire to fol-
low in his fathers footsteps. and took or
ders when only % years old. year later
he became a fellow of Lincoln college,
oxford, and was soon made lecturer
and a moderator of classes, remaining
there for six years.
The mother of John and Charles Wes-
ley was the twenty-ffth daughter of
Rev. Samuel Annesley, who belonged to
the noble family of Anglesea and who
was known as the "St. Paul of the Nom
conformists." Her own character and
religious sentiments made deep impress
scion on her children, whom she reared
with strict and methodical religious in
struction. They were trained to careful
attention to religious duties, to prompt
obedience, industry, perseverance and
punctuality. As youth John Wesley
showed such marked ability as a scholar
that his father wished him to devote
himself to critical study, but he was in
clined to the religious life, his tendency
in this direction being increased by read
ing the work of Thomas A. Kempis, VIII
liam Law and Jeremy Taylor. He was
ordained deacon by the Bishop of Ok
ford In 1928 and priest In 172s.
1t was Charles Wesley who formed a
club, with some other young men at OK
ford for serious study, that really be-
was to them that the term "Methodists'
was first applied in 1929. But John Wes-
ley was soon associated with them and
became the leading spirit The members
followed strict religious practices, and
the leader decided to give himself to the
evangelization of the world. 1t was with
this purpose In view that he gave up his
oxford work and came to this country
in 1875 to engage In a mission to the In
IN. TJo hn
of Savannah in need of religious instruc-
ton and remained there for some time.
His religious experiences had been quick
ened by meeting with Moravians aboard
Ship and some of their ideas he afterward
applied in church work, and he was much
impressed by a Moravian preacher to
whom he listened In London In 1913.
It is from 1879 that the formal beginning
of the Wesleyan or Methodist movement
is dated. Whitfield, with whom Wesley
had been associated in Georgia. had been
excluded from the churches of London.
owing to his evangelical fervor. and began
to preach in the open fields, and he sought
Wesley to aid him. The latter did so, with
much success, and a Westinghouse was
built in Bristol and a foundry converted
into a church in London, and this became
the headquarters of the movement which
was to spread to all parts Oh the Worid
Wesley did not desire to leave the Church
of England. but the treatment he received
forced him to do so, and thus began the
growth of the great denomination. 1t in
creased rapidly. owing to Weslsy's untir-
ing efforts. and In 80 years there were 60
circuits, the fifteenth being America
where some Methodsts had begun work
As no ordination could be secured from
the Established Church for Wesleys CO.
workers, he himself ordained them, and
when 1t was decided to form an indepen-
| dent church in this country after the
Revolutionary War. Thomas Coke and
| Francis Asbury. whom Wesley had or
dained, were made general superinten-
| dents, afterward called bishops.
| When John Wesley died. in 1871. there
were 313 Methodist preachers and 76.96s
| members in England, and 1888 preachers