Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-02-18

held, fasting twice a week, and the
observance of the Lords supper
once a week was the general plan.
The Wesleys We're preparing them
selves for the Christian ministry.
Mr.. Metcalf gave brief explain
alton of how George Oglethorpe
came to America with his band Of
released prisoners to begin a settle
ment in Georgia Its direct bearing
upon the subject in hand was the
fact that Chas Wesley came as his
secretary and John Wesley as mis-
sionary to the Indians. In this work
the latter felt himself to be COM.
plete failure and in two years both
were back in England, taking the
leading part again in the great re-
vival An old iron foundry was US
ed as meeting house and one day
when the scholars were eXpounding
certain passages of Hebrew scrip
ture, John Wesley was strangely
stirred and he dates that moment as
the time of his conversion. Lecky,
an English author, pronounces this
conversion of John Wesley an epoch
al event, turning point in the
worlds history of religion.
In Mr.. Metcalf's opinion he was
converted long before, but perhaps
this was the moment when he real
lied his opportunity and accepted it.
He began preaching now in the pull
pits where he was invited to speak,
but he was never asked the second
time, as the new religion did not
suit the established ecclesiasts. He
was now forced to preach out-of-
doors. About this time George Whit
field, dissolute young bartender
who was to be educated as an actor,
was converted and became preach
err. The dramatic fire and enthus-
iasm which he carried into his work,
made him popular at once, and at
his open air meetings audiences of
10000 people were in reach of his
voice. Near the beginning of his
career, he went to Bristol, mining
community, and found his audiences
SO large that he needed help and
sent for John Wesley. Together
ha
Soon the people wished to be band
ed together for mutual help and
John Wesley organized societies and
these little groups were called
classes-the origin of the Methodist
class meetings. And SO this great
man went about preaching the Cos
pei in dissoiute England. He met
with great opposition. Brick bats
were hurled at him and he was FREE
quently rotten egged, but his indom-
liable courage overcame even the
''beasts of Ephesus" One day on
the steps of the old foundry when
missiles were being thrown, he rails
ed his hand and quelled the multi
tude. With the courage of ten lions, |
he preached to them of righteous
ness and Judgment to come, doing |
all in his power to Stir them into
newness of life. There were only
three preachers of the new faith in
all England and it became necessary
for laymen to preach. While at first
Wesley objected, because they were
not ordained, he finally decided that
he was the Bishop of this new sect
and that he had the power from on
high to ordain them himself
Then came a generation of the
first great Methodist preachers.
Among them all John Wesley now
an old man, was still the greatest,
and to this day he is held in the
highest honor and esteem every
where. He had travelled no less
than 100000 miles and had averag-
ed five sermons per day. In the end
he had won out. Religion was re-
established in England Historians
believe that had it not been for this
evangelical revival, the French Rev
olution would have been repeated in
England.
Mr.. Metcalf closed with the
prophecy that another great relig-
ious revival is at hand. That it will
be an intellectual one, and the lead
er of the movement man of brains,
who, like John Wesley, will unite
with his great knowledge the fire Of
religious zeal and awaken in his fol-
lowers the desire for higher and
nobler living.