Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-02
METHODlsTs HONOR WESLEY.


A century and a quarter ago today
John Wesley the founder of Method.
ism, breathed his last in London. in
observance Of the day. clergymen of
the great denomination which he fOs-
church clocks for ten minutes today.
Although it has been but l2J years
since the death OF the founder, and
just $50 years since the first Method
isl society in America was formed III
New York. the denomination has now
taken front rank in the great bodies
of Professionalism in the United States
and Canada.
The Methodists of the United States
are now divided into sixteen different
organizations. but all claim John Yves
ley as the founder of their faith
Even the colored Methodis1s have not
been able to agree on minor points OF
doctrine, and support four different
bodies. In Canada and England there
is less diversity in Methodist opinion.
In England the principal secessions
from the original connection have
been the New Connection Methodists,
in 1896; the Primitive Melhodists, in
1910; the Bible Christians, or Bryan
ties, in 1915; the Wesleyan Method.
lists. in 1884, and the Wesleyan Meth
Odist RefOrmers, in 1S49 The great
est of American divisions arose from
difference of opinion about the slav-
cry question, and, although the old
wounds have long since been healed.
so far as secular and worldly organ
izations are concerned, the Method
lists of North and South still maintain
separate bodies.
1t was in 1870 that John Wesley
and his brother, Charles, with a few
other students, formed society bas
ed on principles of greater religious
austerity and methodical piety than
then generally prevailed. They were
called "Methodists" in a spirit of de-
rision, but. as was the case with the
Quakers, Shakers and other sects, the
nickname applied by the ungodly was
eventually adopted as the formal IL
tie of the denomination. Wesley and
one of his converts, the celebrated
Whitefield, came to Georgia to preach
to the Indians in 1886. Charles Yves.
ley, who accompanied his brother
soon fell a victim to the arts and wiles
of two women and fell into temporary
disgrace. He was sent back to Eng.
land by Oglethorpe, but John remain
ed as pastor of a church in Savannah.
He, too suffered something of a loss
of reputation by becoming the lover
of young woman of his flock, who,
he declares in his journal. made pre-
tensions to great piety in order to|
entrap him. Acting upon the advice
of his friends. he broke off the re-
and the fair charmer mar
ried another man. Wesley soon had
occasion publicly to reprove his for
mer sweetheart for neglect of relig-
iOus duties, and refused to admit her
to the Lords Supper. Her husband
resented this treatment of his spouse
and appealed to the law. The grand
jury found two bills against Wesley,
charging him with numerous abuses
of his ecclesiastical authority. and
also of speaking and writing to the
woman without her husbands con-
sent. A fierce controversy ragged for
A time, and Wesley announced his
10 go to England and
lay the matter before the trustees.
The magistrates demanded that he
give bond for his return to answer
the charges made against him, but
Wesley refused. and they forbade his
departure. Wesley eluded his enc
mics and fled to Charleston, taking
ship there for England, and never
returned to Georgia.
Back in his native land, Wesley be-
gan his career as an itinerant preach
err The churches of the establish
ment were closed against him, but
large chapels were built in London
and other cities, and Wesley and
Whitefield labored to lay the founda-
ton for the mighty fabric of Method
ism. Wesley and his great co-worker
later had a falling out over point
Of doctrine, and thenceforth labored
toward the same end
When the great preacher died, 125
years ago today, iMethodism was we'll
started along the road toward its
great success.