The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-03-06
At WEsLEl'S OLD HOME
Former 0skaloosa Girl Tells of Visit
to Historic Place.


Lillian Hughes Davis, n former Oska.
loosa girl, tells OF her travels A Eu-
rope The following excerpts are
from recent letter, published by
permission:
IAN interesting place in London is
the old home and church of John
Wesley AT present they are quite
within the city, but in Wesley's day
ltbey were in the country. The
house Is rather narrow but four stor-
| les high On the second floor are
! the three apartments used principal.
lily by Mr.. Wesley. First is shown
II his bedroom with much of the fur
niture still placed as he had it. OPP.
euing from it is his prayer room and
one could not but feel what holy
lcommunion with God that sainted
man of prayer experienced here. This
small room was probably the birth
place of .Methodism, for Methodism
was born of prayer
IN the largest room We're many in
ltorcstiBg pictures, chairs, books, etc,
not the least of which was the nam.
moth teapot used by Mr.. Wesley when
| his friends were with him. We were
told that an American had offered five
thousand dollars for this teapot The
offer was rejected but the man sent
again and offered ten thousand dol.
lars. This was also refused, but
during the interim the lid of the tea
pot disappeared and has never been
found. .f # ..I. f.n
Just beside the house is the church
or chapel as one must say in Eng
land and Wales. This is quite com.
modious building and many congre-
gational gatherings and conferences
are held here, although no doubt the
great new Wesleyan structure near
Westminster Abbey will gradually
attract such meetings 1henceforth.
| The beadle showed us over the in.
TERROR with an honest pride, und zeal
which was delightful. In the pres.
ence of three American Methodists,-
one from Oklahoma, another from
/ Iowa, and the third from New York.
and in spite OF all our reading and
studying of John Wesley's Journal,
this man of simple faith knew that
life far better than the three of us.
1t was part of his very existence
and his knowledge had come to him
because of his love for the noble work
OF John Wesley. ...-G.. ..
1.-The pulpit was quite familiar to
us through pictures. but nevertheless
we all had TO so up in it and view
the place. We also sat in one OF
his pulpit chairs. That evening we
were hearing DIR. Campbell Morgan
preach INA very beautiful new Mis-
sion Hall and one could not help no.
were used in the frcscoing; quite a
contrast to the design used in Wes-
! ley's chapel. His design was that Of
wreath. With the dov3 of peace in
its, center.
AT the rear Of the building is a
small -burying ground and here lies
the body of John Wesley. A time
wcrn and weather-stained monument
marks the spot. As we stood. silent,
before il. we remembered only this
great soul who had been such q
faithful worker for his Master. Just
across the street is the famous Bun.
lhill buryimg ground. Here are bur
led Susanna Wesley of sainted men,
Dry, John Bunyan, Daniel Defoe and
Isaac Watts. This cemetery now be-
longs to the city of London.
I'VE felt bit sad during this visit,
and our minds were on the past To
each Death speaks language all its
own. However. we spent the SleXt
day in Oxford amidst the animation
of modern university. Through
the kindness of DR.. Taiush of the
United Free Church, Glasgow, we had
an introduction to Mr.. Henry Provide,
who in turn gave us line to Mr..
Horace Hart, the controller of the
Oxford Press. Through his courtesy
we saw a great deal of the different
colleges, and were privileged to exam.
inc the old "Yeller Book" immortal.
lied by Browning. We had hoped
for glimpse of the "Pragger Wag-
sger." as they call the Prince of
Wales, who is a student at Magdalen
College. However we bad the pleas.
ure OF meeting Canon William Sun
day. ....
we we're taken through the Ok
ford Press where some seven hun
dTed are employed. The paper mills
are at Wolyercote, near oxford, and
here is manufactured the famous In
dia paper. It Is made of certain
kind OF linen rags and is the most
wonderful paper known. An Oxford
man learned how 10 make 1t some
years ago in India and so zealously
is the secret guarded that only three
men are ever allowed to know all of
its composition, Not even the work.
men know all; each knows only his
certain part of the work, and no one
is allowed 10 go entirely through the
mill. Many others have tried to make
paper as clear and strong and Opaque
as this: but none have succeeded.
You will notice the names of Mr..
Provide and Mr. Hart in your Oxford
Bible. Each of these men gave us a
book as souvenir OF our visit So
passed two memorable days.-Lillian
n. Davis"
Scarlet Fever at Ottumwa.
So many eases OF scarlet fever have