pointed out with pride by the folk of and human nature rebelled against the
Tue WeEsLrys—in Picture AND Story
ROBERT SOUTHEY AND JOHN WESLEY
LMOST directly across the street His criticisms of Wesley before Aldersgate possibly were not so far astray, especially where he speaks of Wesley's failure in Georgia. "Wesley," he said, "instead of feeding his flock in Bristol from the home in which George Whitefield and John Wesley lived in the beginning of their field preaching, stands the home in which Robert Southey was born in with milk, was drenching them with the physic of an intolerant discipline, and human nature rebelled against the bitter dose." But Wesley was following the way of ritualism in Georgia in1774. The bust and the house are pointed out with pride by the folk of Bristol. Southey spent much of his younger days at Bath, with an aunt, where he had access to such works as those of Spencer, Sidney, Shakespeare, and many others. He was sent to Westminster School in 1788, and was expelled four years later. He became more or less skeptical, even atheistic in his faith in later years. This much has been said to show that Southey, in his history of Wesley, in 1829, was not qualified to pass judgment upon a man of Wesley's character. stead of the way of faith, as he afterward did. Wesley knew what took place at Aldersgate much better than his unborn critics who tried to resolve his experience into physical terms, stating that Wesley's stomach had been healed and not his soul. If that was true, in the case of Wesley, as they state, then would to God the stomachs of all the people were healed in like manner.
Tue WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
THE NEW ROOM IN THE HORSEFAIR, BRISTOL
his bedroom, he wrote many of his OON after the beginning of Wesfamous letters and some of the books that he published. ley's field preaching and the systematic instruction of the Bristol societies by Wesley, the number of members grew so rapidly that something had to be done about it. Wesley bought a lot between Broadmead and the Horsefair and on May 12, 1739, the corner stone of a small building was laid.
This was to be the first building of Methodism for church purposes; the first of hundreds of thousands. The first rooms were for fellowship, rather than for preaching purposes. Here Wesley met his classes and any who were seeking to find God.
Here, too, several of the first conferThe New Room as shown in the picture is on Broadmead. It is a sort of shrine for every visitor to Bristol, especially to those of the Methodist faith.
What a sacred place this upper room must have ie to John Wesley! Here he not only wrote his books, but here he met God, not only for himself, but for every one who came to seek his help. We can think of Adam Clarke the youth who came to declare his purpose to preach the Gospel, and Wesley's acceptance of him, and the prayer and blessing that went with it. We can visualize the coming of the saintly Fletcher of Madeley, and the sweet converse they must have had together.
Here too came Coke and Asbury, and ences were held.
It was afterward, 1748, greatly enlarged.
It is said that the New Room is the only building in the world that spans the whole period of Wesley's evangeliall the rest to get the inspiration of this man of God, that they too might go out into the world and do a man's work in the name of John Wesley's Christ. cal ministry. He certainly spent much time in these rooms where, at his sloping desk, fitted to the window sill of
Tue Westrys—in Picture AND Story
THE INTERIOR OF THE NEW ROOM, BRISTOL
O ALMOST every one who steps inside the New Room on Broadmead there comes a holy awe. The injunction that came to Moses in the presence of the Burning Bush seems to utter itself in one's thought.
'Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." One desires to worship, and he does.
; Mr. E. S. Lamplough of London, under the direction of Sir George Oatley, a noted architect, in 1930 restored every original feature of the building. Methodism will be forever indebted to this benefactor for services rendered, There is the clock that recorded the time for the Wesleys still doing duty. The backless benches of former days are there, together with the sconces for the candles, and the hat pegs as well. The newer pews are there too. Some changes have been made in the pulpit arrangement, but it is much as it was in Wesley's day.
There are no windows in the lower room. Perhaps there was a method in such an arrangement, due to the mob violence of that day. Surely that was true in 1788 when Wesley denounced the slave trade as '"The most execrable of villainies," and the riot broke out to such an extent that the people rushed upon one another with the ut- -mMost violence, and the benches were broken in pieces.
This New Room was not only the home of the earliest Methodist Fellowship, but here it was that the Methodist Class Meeting had its birth.
One, Captain Foy, proposed that all members of the Society should be divided into groups of twelve, each with a leader.
The purpose at first was for gathering weekly pence for paying the debt on the New Room. Afterward it was adopted by Wesley for Christian fellowship and_ spiritual oversight.
What a service to Methodism and to its young converts was the class meeting for many days and years to follow!
THe WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
WHITEFIELD'S TABERNACLE, BRISTOL, ENGLAND
the work of these men in Scotland.
George Whitefield was in Scotland and especially in Edinburgh in the earlier days of his oratorical powers, and he swept everything before him, but he failed to organize his converts into classes and, they were soon scattered.
Wesley came into this same territory HE picture of this old tabernacle carries us back in our thought to the days when George Whitefield was such a force for righteousness in the city of Bristol. Here he preached and labored when he was not busy about his field preaching, for which he was so famous, and in which he helped to make Wesley more famous than himself. in 1751 for the first time, and then quite regularly after 1753.
But while Wesley never obtained such a hold on Scotland as he did on England and Ireland, he did a lasting work among the Scottish people. He formed his converts into classes and made his work more permanent by that method.
Whitefield had warned Wesley not to attempt to do this in Scotland. Wesley followed his own better judgment and succeeded, where Whitefield failed.
Whitefield and Wesley began their work together and shared the same fundamental concepts of the Kingdom of God and the Gospel of Christ, but when Whitefield took up with the Calvinistic teachings of his day, Wesley and he agreed to go, each his separate way. This decision was not easy for either of them, and many and long were their discussions over their differences. Each of these men did an outstanding piece of work in his own way, but the work that has withstood the changes of time and of the thinking of men, has been that of Wesley.
Whitefield never ceased to recognize the superior intellectual power of Wesley, and his ability as a logician and leader. His greatest sorrow was that Wesley would not accept his CalvinisAs an illustration of that fact, take tic theology, and way of life.
THe WESLEYS—IN Picture AND Story
JOHN WESLEY,
FIELD PREACHER
AND ORGANIZER
E HAVE seen how loath was Wesley to take up field preaching though pressed to it by Whitefield.
We have seen also how marvelously successful he was in winning folk to Christ through that means; let us see him as organizer and statesman in holding these people to the Kingdom of God. dery" in London; and the "Orphan House,' in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
The rise of the United Societies, first in London and then in other places, as Wesley records it, was as follows:
'In the latter end of the year 1739, eight or ten persons came to me in London, who appeared to be deeply convinced of sin, and earnestly groaning for redemption. They desired (as did two or three more the next day) that I would spend some time with them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come which they saw continually hanging over their heads. I gave those advices which I judged most needful for them; and we always concluded our meeting with prayer suited to our several necessities." The societies were composed of '"'Bands" or "'Select Bands," of not more than fifteen members.
Class leaders were appointed, who received the contributions and served as sub-pastors.
Macaulay often said that Wesley had a genius for government not inferior to that of Richelieu, and Leslie Stephen styled him the greatest captain of men of his century. This was shown in Wesley's ability to conserve the results of his labors in a growing organization, where Whitefield, his superior in oratory, miserably failed.
One of Wesley's early resolutions was "I will not strike one stroke in any place where I cannot follow the blow."
At first he tried to reform the Established Church by forming religious societies within it. He did not name the buildings he erected "churches," so careful was he not to offend the Established Church, but called them, "The New House," in Bristol; the '"Foun-
Tue WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
Oe ——— ee
JOHN WESLEY THE FIELD PREACHER
convert the American Indians. He fails to accomplish much of good either for others or for himself, and returns to England, conscious of one momentous fact, he did not know God in Jesus Christ. He tries to preach in the churches of London, but every door closes against him, except the door of salvation in Aldersgate Street. He has a new Gospel TO PREACH and he must needs,preach it. Now the doors of the Anglican Church are closed against him more tightly than ever. A call comes to him from Bristol, sent by his friend and brother, George Whitefield. Whitefield introduces him to open-air or field preaching, in which he himself was having such marked success. The crowds that gathered to hear him, came under the power of HE above picture was taken from a painting the writer found in Epworth, England, and probably represents Wesley preaching from his father's tombstone.
It has a story to tell of the field preaching of Wesley that may very well be told at this point.
John Wesley was an educated man of the finest type. He was a thinker, a logician, a teacher and lecturer who loved Oxford and all it had to offer him. He was a churchman, trained to observe all of the requirements, and teachings of the church, and one who held rigorously to their practice. He might well have graced any pulpit in Great Britain, so far as preparation was concerned. But it was not so to be.
The whole trend of his life was in a different direction and not always of his own choosing. His father sent to Oxford for him to help in the work of the church at Wroote, a part of the Epworth parish. For two long years he ministered to the poor and ignorant peasants of the fens and morasses of the countryside.
He returns again to his beloved Oxford and is happy in the prospects that lie ahead, until a call comes for him to go to America to God, and found peace in their souls.
No church doors opened to him, and to those who closed them against him, he cried, "I look upon all the world as my parish." He goes on and on, in England, and Ireland, and Scotland, giving of his best for every man who would hearken to his message, but especially to those who needed him most, and those were the common people.
THe WESLEYS—IN PictuRE AND Story
CHARLES WESLEY
HARLES WESLEY, born in 1708, up to Westminster School in 1716, Samuel was already there as instructor, and John was at Charterhouse.
Thus there were three Wesley boys in London at one time, or until 1720 when John went up to Christ Church, in Oxford.
Charles followed him to Oxford in 1726, shortly after John had entered Lincoln College as Fellow of Lincoln.
Charles was not given to religious thinking at this time, as we might judge from his answer to John who spoke to him on the subject of religion. "What," said he, ''would you have me become a saint all at once?" But it was only two years later that we find him the founder and leader of the Holy Club, in Oxford, doing was the eighteenth child in the home at Epworth.
He was cared for with tender care because as a boy he was not strong. He was given the same start in life, intellectually, by that wonderful mother as the other members of the family. On the day that he was five he was taken into a room alone and taught the letters the first day. The second day he was taught to read, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," etc.
It may have been concerning Charles that the father Samuel said to Susanna, "I wonder at your patience.
You have told that child twenty times that same thing." She answered, "Had I satisfied myself by mentioning the matter only nineteen times, I should have lost all my labor. You see it was the twentieth time that crowned the whole." all within his power to help build the Kingdom. He gave of his best as preacher, evangelist and hymn writer to the Kingdom of God. Methodism could not have come to its best without Charles Wesley.
Charles, the youngest brother, came
Tue WeESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
CHARLES WESLEY CONVERTED
day morning, May 23, he says, "I waked under the protection of Christ and gave myself up, soul and body to Him." He sat down to write the first hymn he ever wrote, and one of the greatest.
Telford calls it the '"Birthsong" of the Evangelical revival. There were eight original stanzas.
The first stanza is:
HE picture shows Number
Little Britain Street, London, which is just a short distance from the spot in Aldersgate Street where John Wesley was converted. Here the experience of God infilling the heart came to Charles Wesley. He too had been hearing the counsel from Peter Bohler, of finding God by faith in Jesus Christ. More quickly than John, his brother, he found this peace. Under the guidance of William Holland, a house painter, he read with joy the comments of Martin Luther on the second chapter of Colossians, ""He loved me and gave Himself for me.'"'
These words went straight to his heart.
He was unwell at this time and staying with one Bray, a brazier at the above address. These men helped him greatly in his search for God, and as he reflected "Where shall my wondering soul begin?
How shall I all to heaven aspire?
A slave redeemed from death and sin, A brand plucked from eternal fire.
How shall I equal triumphs raise, Or sing my Great Deliverer's praise?"
This hymn was sung throughout at the time John was converted, with Charles assisting.
Hear him in the closing verse, for it reveals the love of his newly warmed soul.
"Come, O my guilty brethren, come, on his need and God's supply, on Whitsunday, May 21, 1728, he came nearer
Groaning beneath your load of sin!
His bleeding heart shall make you room,.
His open side shall take you in; He calls you now, invites you home:
Come, O my guilty brethren, come." to appropriating these words to himself. Forty-eight hours later, on Tues-
Tue .WEsLEYS—IN Picture AND Story
The Everliving Christ
AZMON.
C.M.
Cary G. GLASER, 1784-1829 © Arr. by Lowett Mason, cor ae Cuarres WESLEY, 1707-1788 | |} oo a thou-sandtonguesto sing My great Re-deemer's praise God, As sist me :
Je - sus! the Namethat charmsour fears, That bids our sor - rows cease My gra-cious Mas - ter and my to pro -claim, .
He breaksthe power of can-celed sin, He sets the pris -oner free:
- = tri-umphsof His gracel tS
secrete The glo-ries of my God andKing, The To spread thro'all the earth a-broad The hon-ors of Thy Name. life, and health, and peace.
: the sin-ner'sears, 'Tis His bloodcan makethe foul-est clean; His blood a-vailed for me.
Tis music in A-MEN.
6 Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, Your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Saviour come; 5 He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead Teceive; The mournful, brokén hearts rejoice; The humble poor believe.
And leap, ye lame, for joy.
CHARLES WESLEY THE HYMN WRITER
"The Everliving Christ."
HIS hymn, written on the first anniversary of his spiritual birth, has from the beginning occupied the place of honor in the hymn books of Great Britain and America.
Of all the six thousand hymns that came from the heart and pen of Charles Wesley, none is more wonderful than this.
Isaac Watts said, "I would rather be the author of that single poem that of all the hymns which I have ever written." movement only God knows.
Psalms were sung in the services before then but they were sung without much spiritual life. Now came a new day in the use of songs that had spiritual life and power in them and that opened the way for the gospel message as it had not been opened before. These hymns of Charles Wesley have reached into every church and every Christian home and have done much to bring Jesus Christ as a real Saviour to the souls of men of every creed and tongue.
While he wrote many hymns rapidly, as if from inspiration, most of them were written out carefully, revised and written again; especially was
This hymn was accorded first place in the popular Methodist vote of 1938, made by the "Million Unit Fellowship Movement" in the United States. this true in the later years of his life.
What a contribution Charles Wesley made to the success of the Methodist
Tur WESLEYS—IN PIcTURE AND STORY
. 257
JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL
there was no prayer which we said oftener than this:
HERE is only one hymn that breathes such a spirit as does this.
It stands alone in its class. By many it is considered the most popular, if not the most famous of Charles Wesley's hymns.
Henry Ward Beecher says, "I would rather have written that hymn than to have the fame of all the kings that ever sat on the earth— 'Leave, oh leave me not alone!
Still support and comfort me."
Thousands of other bereaved hearts have found it equally comforting, when the testings were on.
It is devotional in the highest degree, as well as wholesomely comforting to sorrowing hearts.
It has been said that Charles Wesley received the inspiration for this hymn when he, one day, took refuge from the storm beneath the ledge of a great rock while the storm raged without. it will go on singing till the last trump brings forth the angel-band; and then, I think, will mount up on some lip to the very presence of God." The Reverend Theodore L. Cuyler says, '"Two lines of this hymn have been breathed fervently and often out of bleeding hearts. When we were once in the valley of death-shade, with one beautiful child in the new-made grave and the other threatened with fatal disease, A bird, buffeted by the storm, took refuge near him and after resting for a short time, flew again to battle with the elements— "Hide me, O my Saviour hide, Till the storm of life is past.'
THE WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
CHARLES WESLEY'S HOUSE
HARLES WESLEY'S
House is at 4 Charles Street in Bristol, England, a bit of which is shown in the picture above. To this home he brought his bride, Sarah Gwynne, whom he married at Llanlleonfel Church, Brecon, Wales, April 8, 1749. John Wesley officiated at the wedding. The rental was eleven pounds a year for this threestory building. Here they lived from good. It is fitting to say that he never varied in his devotion to her.
Eight children were born to them, five of whom died in infancy, Charles, Jr., who at the age of three surprised his father by playing a tune on the harpsichord, in good time became a very noted musician.
In the home in Marylebone, London, where Charles Wesley and his family lived from 1771 1749 to 1771.
Charles described the house as "such an one as suited a stranger and pilgrim on earth." It was in a highly desirable residential district at that time.
But what a contrast it must have been to Sarah, a daughter of Squire Gwynne of Garth, who lived in patriarchal state, the head of a family of nine sons and daughters, in a great rambling house with twenty servants and a private chaplain!
She was twenty-two and he was forty-four, but she promised "not to interfere with the missionary journeys of her husband or with his vegetarian diet,"' and she made till the death of the father, Charles, Jr., conducted many wonderful concerts. He was his father's son in the production of music, but unlike him in that he wrote no hymns.
Sarah Gwynne Wesley, Charles Wesley's wife, outlived him many years, and continued in the work of the Church until her death in 1822 at the age of ninety-six.
John Wesley and his friends did much for her material comfort, to the end of her long life.
She never failed John, but remained a faithful friend to him until his spirit went home to God.
Tur WeESLEYS—IN PicTURE AND STORY an
THE GARDEN, BRISTOL, ENGLAND
appeared and a new musical impulse was aroused in the people which gradually changed the face of public devotion throughout England."
N this small garden at the rear of his three-story house, Charles Wesley used to sit and compose many of his hymns.
However, it is probably true that the high-water mark of his genius for hymn writing was reached in the ten years preceding his residence in the Bristol House. It was a custom for him to jot down the beginnings of hymns as they came to him while riding on horseback or in the secluded paths of Redland near his home, and then write them out fully in the study on the third floor of his home. Here, doubtless, the mass of his six thousand hymns were written.
Every denomination of the Christian church has reason to give thanks to God for Charles Wesley, the hymn writer, and for the influence that his hymns have had on their worship.
One can scarcely find a hymnbook of any Protestant denomination that does not have some, and most of them have many, of Charles Wesley's hymns.
His hymns are spirit touched.
They came out of his experiences and he wrote them down while they were yet a part of those experiences. They have force and power in them today that makes them live, and they will go on living down through the centuries, as long as Christians sing.
J. R. Green, the historian, said of Charles Wesley's hymns, "They expressed the fiery convictions of the converts in lines so chaste and beautiful that its more extravagant features dis-
THe WEsSLEYS—IN PictuRE AND StoRY
A BIT OF WESLEY. STREET, LONDON
conceivable concourse of people." He preached from the text, ''A prince and a great man is fallen this day in Israel."
He said of Charles Wesley, "His soul was formed for friendship in affliction.
He was courteous without dissimulation and honest without vulgar roughness.
He was truly a great scholar, without pedantic ostentation; a great Christian, without pompous singularHIS blunt corner of Wesley Street in London, with the name of the street showing, tells us that Charles Wesley, for whom it is named, was thus honored.
This street is located near where Charles lived, after leaving Bristol, England.
His home was on Chesterfield Street, in Marylebone, and here he died on the 29th day of March, 1788.
His body was laid to rest in the Marylebone cemetery as he had requested. John was not present at the death or burial of his brother Charles, due to the fact that Mr.
Bradburn's letter announcing his death was misdirected and did not reach John ity; a great divine, without contempt of the meanest of his brethren."
There was a beautiful friendship and love between John and Charles Wesley that lasted throughout their lives. They often differed as to each other's conduct, but there was no differing as to till the day before the burial. Samuel Bradburn attended Charles in his last illness and preached the funeral sermon at City Road Chapel to "an intheir purpose to make Jesus Christ supreme in the lives of men.
Ture WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
KING'S SQUARE, BRISTOL
wood School where John did heroic, but not always successful service for the young who were committed to the care of the School. Nearer at hand was his beloved New Room, the workshop of his ministry in Bristol. Throughout the city were the taverns, unlicensed and unbridled, that were preying upon the poor and the unfortunate, while yonder at the docks on the Severn were the slave ships of the world, doing business in human flesh. In the midst of it
UST a short distance from the home J that Charles Wesley and his family occupied for so long a time in Bristol is King's Square. The picture shows a bit of the space where John Wesley stood when he preached there.
The Square contains a quarter of an acre of ground and is kept sacred to the memory of the man who did so much for Bristol in the days of his flesh. Again and again the Square would be filled with the people, who would crowd into the grounds that sloped toward the East.
In those days there was no iron fence and keeper and key, as there is today, so that the multitudes could have spread over that whole territory, all, what was Wesley to do? He was to do the only thing that could be done to heal the hurt of God's people; he gave them Christ, and again he gave them Christ.
He apparently did not resort to legal remedies, but proved for his time and for all time, that the best remedy for Overcoming sin was, not force, but love: the love of God through Jesus Christ and His Cross. as they probably did in the days when field preaching was so popular in and around Bristol, and when Wesley was in the full measure of his strength, both physically and spiritually.
Not far from here was his Kings-
Tue WesLEYs—iIN Picture AND StToRY
WESLEY AND BEAU NASH, BATH, ENGLAND
HE picture, with inset of Beau Nash, is the best that could be gotten to tell the story of John Wesley's work in Bath.
It was produced in the Eighteenth Century. that Nash was coming, tried to dissuade Wesley from appearing.
But when did Wesley ever fear to face danger? He began his sermon, and the champion coming close to him asked, by what authority he did these things.
Wesley replied, "By the authority of Jesus Christ and the Church."
Nash said that Wesley was frightening the people out of their wits. Wesley asked, "Did you ever hear me preach?" Nash answered, '"'No, but I know by common April 10, 1739, Wesley says, "'I was desired to go to Bath where I offered to about a thousand people the free grace of God to heal their backsliding, and in the morning to (I believe) more than two thousand. I preached to about the same number at Baptist Mills in the afternoon. On June 5th, 1739, Wesley had his trying experience with Beau Nash. report."
Wesley replied, "I dare not judge of you by common report." Nash said, ""What does this people come here for?" An old lady said, "Let me anThis is a picture of the man as he appeared the day he met Wesley!
He was dressed in the finest and most costly clothing and wore a very !arge white hat; usually he drove in a chaise drawn by six grey horses, with outriders and French horns.
The people, knowing swer him. You, Mr. Nash, take care of your body; we take care of our souls; and for the food of our souls we come here." Nash did not answer, but walked away.
'lHE WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
JOHN WESLEY AT BATH, ENGLAND
all the others, but many were the times and frequent were the visits that were made by him in the earlier part of his ministry, as he went back and forth from London and Bristol.
HERE the people were gathered together, there John Wesley was in their midst, if there was a chance to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and if there was no opportunity he made one. The people came from all parts of England to Bath to be treated for divers diseases in the thermal springs of the city. Bath was the only place in Great Britain where natural hot springs could be found, then or now.
The water comes from a very great depth, containing properties that are reported to have curative powers to Wesley records in his Journals how he went from Bristol to Bath, and says, "T preached to about one thousand in the morning and in the afternoon to the poor colliers, at a place about the middle of Kingswood, called two-mile hill." There it is, "the poor colliers," for these would hear him gladly, and out of such as these he would build the Kingdom. fit most every ailment, if drunk freely and used generously in the bath, as it comes forth from the earth, hot and sparkling.
The Abbey of Bath as shown in the picture was one of the attractive features of the City in the days of Wesley.
It is noted for its beautiful fan vaulting and its great area of window space. It was rebuilt in its present form by Bishop Oliver King in 1499.
Mural tablets almost cover the walls. One to Beau Nash, worsted in his encounter with Wesley, is here.
Wesley had a remedy for the spiritual ills of these people and he was not slow to apply it wherever the opportunity offered, as it frequently did at Bath. The outstanding experience that John Wesley had with Beau Nash. in this city, in a measure overshadows
Tue WESLEYS—iIN Picture AND STORY
WESLEY AT YORK, ENGLAND
ESLEY loved York, and often in his Journal he speaks of his work there at different periods of his ministry.
Yorkminster Cathedral in the background dominates the city.
Somehow the very name York seems to call forth a certain character that made York famous in Methodist annals because of the experiences through which he went and the services he afterward rendered to the Kingdom of God.
Fitchett says, "The story of John Nelson might be described as Bunyan's 'Grace Abounding' translated into human terms once more." His experience may very well typify the work of Wesley at York, and also Wesley in action. was like a wandering bird cast out of his nest till Mr. John Wesley came to preach his first sermon at Moorfields.
. As soon as he got upon the stand, he stroked back his hair and turned his face towards where I stood, and, I thought, fixed his eyes upon me. His countenance fixed such an awful dread upon me before I heard him speak that it made my heart beat like the pendulum of a clock, and when he did speak, I thought his whole discourse was aimed at me.
When he had done I said, 'This man can tell the secrets of my heart; he hath not left me there for he hath showed the remedy, even the blood of Jesus.'
I thought he spoke to. no one but me, and J durst not look up for I imagined all the people were looking at me.
. But before Mr. Wesley concluded his sermon he cried out, 'Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man, etc.'
I said, 'If that be true, I will turn to God today.'"' And he did, and became a great power in the Kingdom of God and a great help to Wesley as a lay preacher, both in London and in York.
Nelson relates how he was troubled in his soul for months and could find no help. He had sought it by prayer and by attendance on worship in the churches, but to no avail. He had heard George Whitefield, but of him he says, "He was to me as a man who could play well on an instrument, for his preaching was pleasant to me, and I loved the man. I was ready to fight for him. But I did not understand him. I
Tur WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE
The Fountain with God's help; I design to preach here again.'
At five, the hill on which I designed to preach was covered from the top to the bottom.
I never saw so large a number of people gathered together either in Moorfields, or at Kennington Common.
The Word of God which I set before them was:
'I will heal their backsliding; I will love them T Sandgate, near the River Tyne, stands a fountain for man and horse, erected on what is conceded to be the spot on which Wesley preached in 1742.
He and John Taylor had gone over the city and finding this as the most likely place for a crowd, especially of the needy people, he began to preach.
No one can tell so well as he, how it all came about.
"At seven I walked down to Sandgate, the poorest and most contemptible part of the town and, standing at the end of the street with John Taylor, began to sing the Hundredth Psalm.
Three or four people came out to see what was the matter; who soon increased to four or five hundred.
I suppose there might have been twelve or fifteen hundred before I had done preaching.
When I had done, the people stood staring and gaping upon me, with the most profound astonishment.
I told them:
'If you desire to know who I am, my name is John Wesley.
At five in the evening, freely.
After preaching, the poor people were ready to tread me under foot, out of pure love and kindness. It was some time before I could get out of the press.
I was vehemently importuned to stay with them, a few days; or at least, one day more.
But I could not consent, having given my word to be at Birstal, with God's help, on Tuesday night."
Thus he began his work in Newcastle-on-Tyne, thus he labored with all earnestness, and thus he hurried on to other tasks and to other fields, white unto the harvest.
Tue WEsLEYS—IN Picture AND STORY
THE KEELSMAN HOSPITAL, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE
HE old Hospital still stands where John Wesley preached the next day after preaching his first sermon in Newcastle-on-Tyne at Sandgate. The Fountain marks the place of the sermon at Sandgate, but the Hospital tells its own story.
It is located just a little way from the Fountain, on the side of the on many an occasion when without their aid he would have suffered much at the hands of the mob.
He sought them out in his meetings and gave special care to helping them spiritually and otherwise.
Many of them, as well as the sailors and ship-builders, were converted in his meetings.
Many of also became staunch Christians, and some of them were among his best Laypreachers. hill. Here he preached again and again to these sailors and ship-builders and gave them Christ.
Their response to his sermons was ready and full.
He had great delight among them, and he never lost a chance to speak to them because the large open space around the Hospital gave opportunity for the multitudes to gather, as they did in his day.
What a ministry of love was that of Wesley! Whether at London, or Bristol, or Newcastle-on-Tyne or wherever his sympathy went out to the needy in every walk of life.
The colliers, the keelsmen, the soldiers, the oppressed, the poor, the afflicted, were all upon his heart and he helped them all to find God in Christ.
Wesley was a good friend of the soldiers too. They had befriended him
Ture WesLEYS—IN PiIcTURE AND STORY
WESLEY'S ORPHAN HOUSE, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE
that He would prosper the work of our hands upon us.
Three or four times in the evening I was forced to break off preaching that we might pray and give thanks to God."
HE experiences of Wesley in finding a place for his contemplated building in Newcastle are very interesting.
He tells how he was unable to get away from the City for some days, as he sought for a suitable location. He says, '"We had several places offered on which to build a Room for the society; but none was such as we wanted. Today (Saturday, December 4, 1742) a gentleman called and offered me a piece of ground."
This Wesley bought for thirty pounds, from a Mr. Riddle. On Wednesday he bought an additional piece from Mr. Stephenson for forty pounds.
They laid the first stone of the House on December 20.
There was a multitude present, "but none scoffed or interrupted," says Wesley, "while we praised God and prayed Many prophesied that the house would never be finished, but Wesley felt that since it was begun for God's sake, He would provide what was needful to finish it. And He did.
The building became a center for not only the preaching of the gospel, but for meeting all the physical and spiritual needs of the people. Part of the building was used for hospital purposes as well as for classes for the study of the Word.
Wesley set out from Newcastle after his first visit there, and as he went he was welcomed everywhere.
Tse Wresrevs—in Pictvre sxp Story
- WESLEY'S ORPHAN HOUSE
Newcastle-on-T yne N front of where the old building, Professor Francke's at Halle, rose by supplies received from time to time and Mr. Wesley called it by the same name, "The Orphan House." called "The Orphan House" stood, this bronze plaque is now fastened.
It continues to tell, long after he has gone, the story of John Wesley's faith in God and man.
Wesley suffered one of his attacks of illness while here, in 1748, and was nursed by Grace Murray, with whom he fell in love. They afterward labored together in Kingdom building but, due to a kindly Providence and the assistance of his brother Charles, they never married.
This may seem like an absurd statement; but is it not possible, had he married, that he would have settled down in a limited area, and we would not have had the worldwide sweep of Methodism that followed?
There is an interesting story told by Henry Moore that bears repeating.
"Mr. Wesley told me that he had one pound and six shillings when he undertook to build the preaching house at Newcastle, at the time the largest in England.
Soon after he began, he received a letter from a pious Quaker (who had heard of the work at Newcastle) in the following terms: 'Friend
Wesley, I have had a dream concerning thee.
I thought I saw thee surrounded with a large flock of sheep, which thou didst not know what to do with.
My He belongs to the universal church and not to one community as might have been the case if he had married.
Charles married and settled down to one parish in Bristol and afterward in London, but John's influence moved on until it not only blessed Methodism, but all of Protestantism the world over. first thought after I awoke was that it was thy flock at Newcastle and that thou hadst no house of worship for them.
I have enclosed a note for one hundred pounds which may help thee provide a house.'
The building, like
Tue WEeESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
eS ee SSS eee
CHEPSTOW, WALES
having preached 'in the "New Room."
In September of 1767 he was at Chepstow where he preached at a friend's door to a "civil, unconcerned congregation."
This friend was Mr. Thomas, who had married the eldest daughter of Squire Jones of Fonman Castle. The old house still stands and remains in the possession of the Thomas family.
HE little town of Chepstow is located where the Wye and the Severn meet, and at this point the tide is said to rise seventy-five feet, the highest point but one in the world.
Here Wesley came in October of 1739, in response to the urgent invitation of Howell Harris whom Wesley had met in Bristol in June. He must have been delighted with this quaint town so beautifully situated on the sloping hills and quiet valleys.
He preached on a small green at the foot of the Ddefauden ("The wild beasts run") about three miles from Chepstow to a congregation of three or four hundred.
He was entertained at the home of Mr.
Nexy in whose home he preached in the morning. He hurried on [though Wesley said he was never in a hurry| to Abergavenny.
The picture above is one of the old streets of the town where, it is said, Wesley preached in August of 1769.
But he himself has drawn a picture that is wholesome and good.
"We rode through a lovely country to Chepstow.
I had intended to go straight on but yielded to the importunity of our friends to stay and preach in the evening.
Meantime I took a walk through Mr. Morris' woods.
There is On Monday, March 29, 1762, he returned again to Chepstow from Bristol, scarce anything like them in the kingdom."
THe WeESLEYS—IN PictuRE AND STORY
a a
IN WALES, NEAR CHEPSTOW
BOUT three miles from Chepstow, Wales, in a north-westerly direction from the small town, is this old stone building, still standing and in good repair.
At, or near, this spot John Wesley preached and formed a society.
One cannot blame Wesley for loving this part of Wales, as he surely did. His name is held in high esteem by successors of those to whom he brought the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.
1743 and preached near Chepstow, and went on, as he says, "With one who was my pupil in Oxford.
We could get no farther that night than the Bull, five Welsh miles beyond Abergavenny.
The next morning we came to Builth, just as the church prayers began. Mr.
Phillips, the rector of Maesmynys, (at whose invitation I came) soon took knowledge of me, and we began a friendship which I trust shall never end.
I preached on a tomb at the east end of the church at four, and again at seven.
Mr.
Gwynne (Marmaduke Gwynne, subsequently father-in-law to Charles Wesley) and Mr. Prothero (justices of the peace) stood on either hand of me; and all the people before, catching every word, with the most serious and eager attention."
It was on the 15th of October, 1739, that Wesley first came to Wales. Chepstow was the first preaching point, out from which he moved to other vantage places, like Abergavenny, Usk, Pontypool,
Newport and Cardiff.
He preached at Pontypool during the first few days in Wales, and records, "When I came to Pontypool in the afternoon, being unable to procure any more convenient place, I stood in the street and cried aloud to five or six hundred attentive hearers to, 'Believe on the Lord
Jesus', that they might, 'be saved.'
Many were melted into tears."
The two brothers carried on their work in Wales and Ireland, which lay so near at hand, amid great difficulties and many persecutions, until they had built Methodism into every city, village and hamlet, that it was possible to serve in the Gospel.
He came again to Wales in May of
Tur WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
OO "Fonmon" Castle
TWO HOMES IN WALES,
"Plas Watford"
OPENED TO WESLEY
it is in Jesus, and laboring with his might to redeem the time he had lost, to make his calling sure, and to lay hold on eternal life."
October 17th, 1741 Wesley preached at Cardiff at three, and set out for Fonmon Castle, arriving at eight and preached to an audience that had been waiting his coming.
He spent the night with Mr.
Jones, who entertained him well.
On Tuesday the sixth of July, 1742, he "Rode over to Fonmon, and found Mrs.
Jones thoroughly resigned to God, although feeling what it was to lose an husband, and such an husband, in the strength of his years." Mr. Jones died June 8th, aged thirty-six years.
In April 1744 Wesley crossed from Minehead to Cardiff, and came at once to T is interesting to note how many people opened their homes to Wesley, and welcomed him, and ministered to him.
Especially was this true in the later years of his ministry. There were two men in Wales who did this for him in a very gracious way: Mr.
Robert Jones in the "Fonmon"' Castle, and Mr. Thomas Price in "Plas Watford," near Cardiff.
Mr. Jones had come under conviction of sin, under the field preaching of Howell Harris, but it was Charles Wesley who led him into an experience of salvation in 1741.
Charles preached several times in the Castle, as did John in later years.
It was while Charles was here that he invited Mr. Jones to Fonmon Castle.
He cries out in the weariness of his flesh, "I found a natvisit "Our Beloved Colliers," at Bristol, which he did.
John tells about that meeting thus, "I set out, and the next evening met my brother at Bristol, with Mr. Jones, of Fonmon Castle, in Wales; now convinced of the truth as ural wish, 'O for ease and a restingplace.'
Not yet.
But eternity is at hand."
But for him it was a long way off.
THE WEsLEYS—iIN Picturr AND SToRY
CARDIFF, WALES
N the spot where this church now swore almost incessantly; and, towards, the conclusion, took up a great stone which he many times attempted to throw.
But that he could not do.
Such the champions, such the arms, against field-preaching."
He comes again to Cardiff, and the whole town turns out to hear him as he preaches in the evening.
His heart was so enlarged he could not cease for three hours. stands in Cardiff, John Wesley preached in 1739 during his first visit to this city, which was a small town in Wesley's days.
He also preached in the Shire Hall that stood in the outer bailey of the castle.
He preached in this hall almost every visit he made to the town.
He had been refused the privilege of preaching in the Church by Rey. Thomas Collrick.
Wesley preached at Newport, a few miles from Cardiff, almost every time he came through Wales.
He writes, "I preached at Newport on 'What must I do to be saved?' to the most insensible, ill-behaved people I have ever seen in Wales.
One ancient man, during a great part of the sermon, cursed and On Saturday he had tried to preach at Cowbridge, a short distance from Cardiff, where many had gathered to hear him, but the mob pelted him with stones almost without intermission.
He says, "After some time spent in prayer for them, I judged it best to dismiss the congregation."
Tur WESLEYS—-IN PICTURE AND STORY
rETETEEEEEEEEEEEEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
ane!
GWENNAP PIT
him.
At last assizes there was a jail delivery.
There/was not one felon to be found in their prisons, a fact which has not been known in the memory of man."
WENNAP PIT is located in Cornwall, England, about one and a half miles from Redruth.
It is in the tin-mining territory, where multitudes of miners could easily congregate and it was not difficult to get a crowd in Cornwall, as Wesley ofttimes discovered.
He was always happy to be in this neighborhood, because of the good he could do.
He speaks of the people as very wicked and given over to all manner of sin, when he first went among them.
His preaching soon changed their habits and their mode of living.
Hear him tell the story of the change.
He has spoken of their revels and their outbreaking deviltry at former times and he now contrasts that with the change that has come over them.
"At their last revel, they had not men enough to make a wrestling match, all the Gwennap men_ being struck off the devil's list, and were found wrestling against him, not for I was fortunate in being present at the Whit-Monday service held on June 6th, 1938 and witnessed the great multitude that filled and overflowed the large amphitheatre, as the picture so well shows.
Hear Wesley describe the place, "It is the finest amphitheatre that I know in the kingdom.
It is a round green hollow, gently shelving down, about fifty feet, but I suppose it is 200 across one way by 300 the other."
The speaker of Whit Monday stood about two-thirds way down the slope but in Wesley's day he must have stood near the top of the pit, if all the people were to hear him, as Wesley reports they did.
THE WESLEYS—IN PictuRE AND STORY
——ee—e—axX—ee The Romney portrait of John Wesley
WESLEY, SEVENTY YEARS YOUNG
At Gwennap
OTWITHSTANDING
ll the labors and excessive hardships of John Wesley, he maintained his vigor and voice, apparently unabated, till he was past seventy years of age. He carried on for eighteen years more than that without any retirement or sabbatical year.
What a beautiful face he had! The artist has portrayed the soul of the man of God and we are happy to look upon such a countenance. persons in a square yard, there must be above two and thirty thousand people; the largest assembly I ever preached to.
Yet I found upon inquiry, all could hear, even the skirts of the congregation.
Perhaps the first time that a man of seventy had been heard by 32,000 persons at once."
The day I was there (June 6, 1938) there were many thousands of persons flowing that day.
All outdoors was present. The Pit was filled and overflowing in Wesley's day and, standing on the edge of the Pit, at its top, he might very well have had the audience he estimated.
The date is August 22, 1774, and we hear him say, "I preached at Ilogan and at Redruth, Sunday 22 in St.
Agnes church-town at 8, about 1, at How the people honor Wesley in that part of Cornwall!
On Whit Monday each year the people come to hear a noted speaker and to conduct a worship service in keeping with the long ago days of the Wesleys.
Redruth, and at 5, in the amphitheatre at Gwennap.
The people both filled it and covered the ground round about, to a considerable distance.
So that, supposing the space to be fourscore yards square, and to contain five
Tue WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
eee
LAND'S END. THE ROCK ON WHICH HE STOOD
in the Isle of Scilly. John Nelson, Mr.
Shepherd, and 1 set out, with three men and a pilot, from St. Ives.
We landed on St. Mary's, the chief of the inhabited Islands. We waited upon the Governor with the usual present, namely a newspaper. The minister not being willing that I should preach in the Church, I preached at six in the streets to almost all the town and many soldiers and sailors and workmen on 'Why will ye die, O House of Israel.'
It was a blessed time, so that I scarce knew how to conclude."
He tells too of how he distributed hymns and books and then set sail for St. Ives. They reached land, but with great difficulty on account of the storm that arose.
The boatmen despaired of getting to land, until after John Wesley had prayed, and the sea became calm. 'More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."
So it was in Wesley's day.
AND'S END can never lose its interest and its wonder for those who are permitted to look upon its majestic scenes, where the Irish Sea, the English Channel, and the great Atlantic Ocean meet.
Here are its great cliffs, its surging waves, its black and challenging rocks, which make one want to worship Him who governs it all. Here, Charles Wesley stood and worshipped.
Here too, it is said, he stood and prayed, and wrote the hymn that begins, "Lo, on a narrow neck of land, 'Twixt two unbounded seas, I stand, Secure insensible.
A point of time, a moment's space, Removes me to that heavenly place, Or shuts me up in hell."
John Wesley visited Scilly Islands at about this time. He tells his story thus, "T had had, for some time, a great desire to go and publish the love of God our Saviour, if it were but for one day,
THE WESLEYS—IN PictuRE AND STORY
————
HE PREACHES AT SENNAN, ENGLAND
ORNWALL, England was always, point of the rocks at the Land's End.
It was an awful sight; but how will these melt away when God shall rise to judgment.
The sea between does indeed 'boil like a pot'. One would think the sea to be hoary.
But 'Though they swell, yet can they not prevail.
He hath set their bounds, which they cannot pass.' " from the beginning of his work there in 1742 until the close of his life, the place where John Wesley loved to labor.
Here he found people who needed the Gospel that he was commissioned of God to deliver to men.
And here he found men and women in multitudes, who at first were ready to mob him and often did, but who, in later years loved him and honored him greatly.
And so it is, as one views it today, after the centuries!
It is remarkable how this rough and rugged country appealed to John Wesley.
He loved it and seemed to be in his glory when laboring here.
He had the artist's eye for beauty wherever he went, and again and again we hear him break forth into beautiful descriptive language as he seeks to make it live before us.
But he loved this Cornwall country most, because of the people whom he found here.
Finding them, he could not be content until they had found their Saviour through him.
He visited Sennan and Land's End frequently and as frequently preached the gospel there.
He relates, "On Saturday, September 10, 743, at six, I preached at Sennan, near the Land's End and appointed the little congregation (consisting chiefly of old men) to meet me again in the morning at five where I preached from 'I will heal their backslidings; I will love them freely.'
We went afterwards down as far as we could go safely, toward the
THE WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
WESLEY AT FALMOUTH, ENGLAND
come into the harbor.
Some of these being angry at the slowness of the rest, thrust them away and coming up all together set their shoulders to the inner door, and cried, 'Avast, lads avast'.
The door gave way, I stepped forward into the midst of them and said, 'Here I am, which of you has anything to say to me? To which of you have I done any wrong?' I cried, 'Neighbours, countrymen, do you desire to hear me speak?' They cried vehemently, 'Yes, yes.
He shall speak.
Nobody shall hinder him.'
I never saw before,—no not at Walsal itseli—the hand of God
ALMOUTH HARBOR,
as you see it in the picture, is one of the most beautiful of the world's harbors today—situated as it is at the mouth of the Fal River on the English Channel.
Falmouth was not very kindly in its reception of John Wesley in the early days of his ministry among its people.
The following story as told by himself will illustrate what the mobs tried to do to him.
Hear him.
"I rode to Falmouth in October, 1743.
Almost as soon as I was set down, the house was beset on all sides by an innumerable multitude of people. A louder or more confused noise could hardly be at the taking of a city.
The rabble roared with all their throats, 'Bring out the Canorum (Cornish word for "Methodist'')'.
They quickly forced open the outer door and filled the passage.
A young woman of the home asked, 'O, so plainly shown as here.
There I had many friends who were willing to die with me, here, no one but a simple girl, who likewise, was hurried away from me in an instant, as soon as ever she came out of Mrs. B's door.
There I lost part of my clothes and was coyered over with dirt.
Here, although the hands of some hundreds of people were lifted to strike or throw, yet they were one and all stopped in the midway, so that not a man touched me with one of his fingers, neither was anything thrown from first to last, so that I had not even a speck of dirt on my clothes.
Who can deny that God heareth prayer, or that He hath all power in heaven and in earth?" sir, what must we do?' I said, 'We must pray.'
Indeed at that time to all appearances, our lives were not worth an hour's purchase.
She said, 'Is it not better for you to hide yourself, to get into the closet?' I answered, 'No, it is best for me to stand just where I am.'
Among those without were the crews of some privateers which were lately
Tue WESLEYS—IN Picture AND STORY
-A LATER VISIT TO FALMOUTH
The Tide Turns N his first visit to Falmouth we see smooth of the hill, at a small distance from the sea, to the largest congregation I have ever seen in Cornwall, except in or near Redruth.
[Meaning of course Gwennap Pit.| And such a time I have not known before, since I returned from Ireland."
John Wesley buffeted about with the mob that prayer seemed to have brought into subjection.
Now upon his visit in 1789, near the close of his early ministry, we behold him as the hero, honored.
If Falmouth harbor, as seen in the picture, could speak it would enlighten us greatly. Wesley relates the story, "In the afternoon, as we could not pass by the common road, we procured leave to drive round by some~ fields, and got to Falmouth in good time.
The last time I was here, about forty years ago, I was taken prisoner by the mob, gaping and roaring like lions.
But how is the tide turned!
High and low now lined the street from one end of the town to the other, out of stark love and kindness, gaping and staring as if the king were going by.
In the evening I preached on the Surely he was coming into his own in the later years of his life! Everywhere he went the people did him honor and the days of mob violence were over forever for him. What a joy it must have been to the oid soldier of the Cross, who bore about with him the marks of the Lord Jesus, to have such evidences of their affection and esteem! "He counted not his life dear unto himself."
He freely and unstintedly gave himself to the task of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to men and rejoiced most when they came into newness of life through Him.
Ture WeESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
en nnn LEE
PENZANCE, CORNWALL, ENGLAND
shows the sincerity and the thoroughness of John Wesley in preaching the Gospel, was like this.
N the spot where this Midland bank stands today, at the summit of the only busy street of Penzance, John Wesley stood and preached to the multitude in 1744.
This was not his first visit to West Cornwall, but his first to Penzance.
The year before he had preached at St. Just, St. Ives, St. Hilary Downs, Kennegy Downs, Treswithen Downs, Morpah, The Three-cornered Downs, Sennan, Lands End, the Scilly Island, and Zennor. He moves on quickly to Redruth, Truro, Gwennap Pit, Falmouth, and other points where men met to hear the Word from his lips. He speaks of the slowness of response to his messages by these people at the first, but it was not long till they did respond in earnest, and the growth of Methodism has gone on until now the population is more than seventy per cent Methodist.
The great, great grandmother of the lady who related the story was present in a;meeting where Wesley was preaching, and a little girl was with her.
Upon reaching home, the girl told her mother about the service, saying, "A man was speaking to the people, and they were all crying, and he wasn't scolding them."
In 1755 Wesley was in Penzance and St. Ives where he preached several times. He went to the home of John Knill, a young attorney of Penzance, who was under such deep conviction for his sins that he went raving mad.
Wesley and his helpers labored with him in prayer until he gained peace of mind and soul. This experience brought nearly every prominent family of St.
Ives and Penzance into connection with the Methodist movement.
A story that came to the writer in the summer of 1938 at Penzance that
THe WEsLEYS—in Picture AND StTorv
eee
ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT
OOKING from Penzance toward the section of Cornwall, never failing to go where people needed him, and especially those who needed him most. St.
Ives, St. Just, Redruth, Truro, Gwennap Pit, Land's End, Sennan, Mousehole, and Penzance were all dear to the heart of Wesley.
Again and again he records in his Journal how he went into Cornwall, and going into Cornwall meant the Southwestern end of Old England.
Here were the tin mines and other mines in abundance in Wesley's day, and where the mines were, there the people were gathered together.
Where the people were, John Wesley must needs go, for the "Heartwarming" at Aldersgate meant not only a heart warming toward God but a _ heart warming toward the poor and the needy, toward the outcast and the forsaken.
East, one sees this beautiful island, which is called St. Michael's Mount.
It lies in the English Channel with an individuality all its own. Marazion is a short distance from Penzance, perhaps five miles, and from here one may walk over to the Mount when the tide is out.
There is a castle and several houses on the island.
John Wesley came at different times to speak to those who dwelt on the Island.
Here too he came in defense of some of his workers who were held to court proceedings, and assisted in freeing them. He loved this quiet spot.
He often preached at Marazion and formed a Society there.
This was served from Penzance.
Wesley preached in all of the small towns and country-sides in all of this
Tue WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
5 nnn nnn LUE EEE EEE SEED
JOHN WESLEY
AND THE MOBS
be brought out. '""We will have the minister," they cried. He went out among them and began to speak and asked what they wanted from him. "We want you to go with us to the justice,' they said.
They went to JusHIS picture, taken from a picture of the painting by J. W. L. Forster, probably ought not to be used in connection with John Wesley's mob encounters, but there is here a saintliness in his appearance that seems to say, "Out of all my troubles my God has delivered me."
Hence it seems appropriate and fitting to use it here. And what troubles they were! No man, unless it was St. Paul, or George Fox suffered more at the hands of mobs than did John Wesley. Mobs and riots were his common lot.
To enumerate them all would not only tire the reader but prolong this story beyond reason. Let us confine ourselves to the riot at Wednesbury and Walsall. tice Lane's home, who refused to see Wesley, probably through fear.
The Wednesbury mob started back and was met and overpowered by the mob from Walsall.
In abbreviated form Wesley tells the story.
'" 'Are you willing to hear me?'
'No, no, knock his brains out; down with him.' My voice gave out, but came again, and I broke out in prayer.
Now the man who headed the mob turned and said, 'Sir, I will spend my life for you; follow me and not one soul shall touch a hair of your head.'
God brought me safe to Wednesbury, having lost only one flap of my waistcoat and a little skin from one of my hands."
In October of 1743 John Wesley was lodged in a house in Wednesbury, England, expecting to preach that evening, when the mob came and demanded, one and all, that the minister
William Hutton says, "The artillery of vengeance was pointed at Methodism for thirty years; but fixed as a rock, it could never be beaten down."
Tue WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
HIS FATHER'S TOMB
OHN WESLEY had been preaching stood near the east end of the church, upon my father's tombstone, and cried, 'The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.' for a little more than three years after his "heart warming" when, in 1742, he went to Epworth, the home of his birth, and on Sunday morning went to the service at the old church.
Mr.
Romley was the rector at that time.
John offered to assist him, either in the prayers or in preaching.
Mr. Romley not only refused to accept his services but took occasion to "preach against 'enthusiasm' and enlarged on the character of an 'enthusiast,' in a florid and oratorical manner."'
After the service was over John Taylor, who was assisting Mr. Wesley, stood in the churchyard and announced that ""Mr. Wesley not being permitted to preach in the church, will preach here at six o'clock."
Wesley says "Accordingly at six I came, and found such a congregation as I believe Epworth never saw before.
I "On Sunday the 13th.
June I preached for the last time in Epworth Churchyard, to a vast multitude, gathered from all parts.
I continued among them for near three hours, and yet we scarce knew how to part.
let no one think his labour is lost because the fruit does not immediately appear.
Near forty years did my father labour here, but saw little fruit of his labours."
The picture shows the tomb upon which John stood when he preached in Epworth Church yard.
Son John preaching on Father Samuel's tombstone is one of the most unique things in religious history.
Tue WrEsLEYS—IN PIcTURE AND STORY
THE MARKET CROSS OF EPWORTH
had forgot.
At length one said, 'Why they pretend to be better than other people; and besides they pray from morning to night.' Mr. S. asked, 'Have they done nothing besides?' 'Yes, sir,' said an old man, 'an't please your worship, they have convarted my wife.
Till she went among them, she had such a tongue! And now she is as quiet as a lamb.'
'Carry them back, carry them back,' replied the justice, 'and EAR the center of the town of Epworth stands this cross, called "The Market Cross."
On the steps of this Cross John Wesley stood and preached to the multitude that gathered to hear him in the market place in 1742-3.
Open air préaching was no new thing to him at this stage of his work and he seemed to be in his best fettle when in Epworth, either on his father's tombstone or in the market place. let them convert all the scolds in the town.' "
At about this time he rode over to a neighboring town to wait upon a justice of the peace, as he tells us in his own words.
'I waited upon a justice of the peace, a man of candour and understanding; before whom (I was informed) their angry neighbors had carried a whole wagon load of these new heretics.
But when he asked what they had done, there was a deep silence; During his stay in Epworth he went again to Wroote a short distance from the old home, where as a young preacher, under his father's direction he labored for two years.
The farmer folk turned out in great numbers to hear this God awakened man who now had a message that brought salvation to them. for that was a point their conductors
Tue WEsLtEYsS—iIn Picture AND Story
THE WESLEY MEMORIAL CHURCH, EPWORTH
THE Wesley Memorial Church in Epworth has a setting in this small town that is unsurpassed for beauty.
It was erected in 1888-1889 as a memoOf John Wesley it has been said that, "He was one of the greatest missionaries and the greatest religious organizers of all history."
With that sentiment we are quite in agreement. We are also agreed that no one has done more for the hymnology of the church as a whole than has Charles Wesley. Why not do something in honor of these two men in the place of their birth, that will make Epworth a place that will attract Methodists and others for what Epworth, by its atmosphere and its associations, can do for them? rial to the Wesleys, and especially as a tribute to John and Charles Wesley who have done so much to immortalize Epworth.
Perhaps no more suitable tribute could have been presented to them than this church and its surroundings, where the worship of God is continued through the years.
But some day Methodism will erect some memorial in Epworth that will even more fittingly commemorate the services of John and Charles Wesley.
It does seem as if all Methodists might unite in this project and make it an outstanding memorial to those who have done so much to make Methodism not only Epworth-wide but world-wide as well.
Here at the home base is a chance to show our appreciation of the high regard in which we hold these workers of other days.
The writer was permitted to be present at the two hundredth anniversary of John Wesley's conversion.
It was the 20th day of May, 1938.
There were over two thousand people, mostly Methodists, present for the occasion.
They came from every village and town and countryside to do honor to him who had done so much for Epworth and for Methodism so many long years before.
Tue WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
WESLEY AND HIS HORSE
rode softly on and at two o'clock came to Darlington.
I thought my horse was not well; he thought the same of his; though they were both young and very well the day before.
We ordered the ostler 'to fetch a farrier, which he did without delay, but before the men could determine what was the matter, both the horses lay down and died."
'O ride a horse when the roads are good is one thing, but to ride when one must needs make his own road, or ride over almost impassable roads which others have made, is quite another.
This John Wesley had to do through much of his itinerancy.
No such beautiful hedgerows with ferns and flowers as adorn England today greeted Wesley on his journeys. Waste lands were everywhere.
Bogs and sloughs were common.
So that when Wesley set out to ride his horse through England and Ireland, in all times of year and in all kinds of weather, he had more than a man's task ahead.
Wesley read as he rode and the horse was given the rein, which ofttimes proved disastrous to the composure of the rider.
When the horse stumbled Wesley went on.
The marvel is that he was never seriously injured from these falls and he always contended that he was safer with a loose than with a taut rein.
Just a glimpse at one of his experiences in which two horses become the first martyrs in Methodist history.
"I set out from Newcastle with John Downes, of Horsley.
We were four hours riding to Ferry Hill about twenty miles.
After resting there an hour we This equestrian statue of Wesley at Bristol, in the entrance to the Broadmead Chapel, is the only one erected to the memory of the man and his horse.
THE WESLEYS—IN PicTruRE AND STORY
THE PREACHERS' STABLE, BRISTOL
if his horse failed him, as must often have been the case, yet he never could have accomplished so great a work as he did without his faithful horse.
HE preachers' stable at the front of Wesley Chapel in Bristol is a splendid trophy of former days. How many stories it could tell if it could speak! What stories the horse could How many horses Wesley used during his journeyings no man knows, but he speaks, again and again, of "my mare" or ''my horse" as if he kept tell, when put up for the night, after a hard day's riding, about the rider and the experiences through which he went during the day! Wesley was always careful for his horse and saw that he was cared for before he himself was lodged safely. But when he reached the same one for years. But the wear and tear of rains and snows, of heat and cold, of long journeys both day and night, while the rider miraculously carried on, must have worn out many horses to the glory of God and His Kingdom.
All hail to Wesley's faithBristol, he knew that his horse would have not only a good stable but the best of care as well.
While Wesley was always a great walker and never failed to reach his appointments, if at all possible, even ful horses and the stable that gave them rest.
Tur WESLEYS—IN PICTURE AND STORY
METHODIST SADDLEBAGS
These horsemen of the Lord carried Bibles and hymn books, together with tracts and pamphlets, which were either sold or given to the people. Thus they became benefactors to those who otherwise would have been deprived of the written word and the Gospel in song as well.
These were the first Methodist Book Concerns, and the saddlebags were both the right hand and left hand helpers of these men of God who never faltered in bringing the good news of God to men, until death had set their spirits free. What stories
HE picture is that of a pair of saddlebags now in the Wesleyana room in Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston.
What an invention they were for those who travelled on horseback in the long ago days! What a convenience and what a necessity they were for Methodists in the days of the Wesleys in England, and for men like Asbury in America when most of the travel was done on horseback! They were usually made of leather, with two large pockets for books and wearing apparel, and other things necessary to the traveller's comfort. The bags were thrown over the horse, just back of the saddle.
With one bag on either side and the connecting flap over the withers of the horse, there was annoyance to neither horse nor rider. the few remaining saddlebags could tell. In the name of all the saddlebags that have served God and humanity in the long ago days, we say hail, and farewell!