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Show P ' D H1LY HISTORY j aBanBBBBniBBsaBBBBBBBnBBBBaBSBBBBsBaBaaaaaBHv ' t v. r. . - ' t, - (Copxiighted 1905 by Ne Clearing Houee Co.) John Wesley was born In the rectory at Epsworth. England, June 17. 1703. He was reared In the Episcopal or established estab-lished church of England, whose ministry minis-try he entered in early life. When he was -8 years old the Duke of Buckingham gave him a free scholarship in the famous school of the Charterhouse In London. In 1720 Wesley entered Christ Church college at Oxford, with hi brother broth-er Charles. Here they came in contact with Pepusch. Handel, and other great musicians, to which Is due the astounding astound-ing energy of both In sacred psalmody, and their numerous publications of hymns, often accompanied with music, which was such a great help to their fu-tur fu-tur success. His college life was like that of other students : h wa simply the gay collegian, a general favorite In society, so-ciety, and a sparkling wit, but Indifferent to spiritual things. The first awakening of his religious nature na-ture wa due to a conversation with the college porter, which awakened an earnest earn-est contemplation of what should b his calling in life. Seeking his mother's advice, ad-vice, she wrote urging him to make a thorough self-examination, and to make religion the business of hi life. Wesley's mind turned to asceticism, with high church beliefs, strong ritualistic ritualis-tic tendencies, and a mystical bias, but In 1725 his belief changed to the doctrine of "present salvation from guilt and fear through .the indwelling of Christ." a belief be-lief opposed to both the high established church and to Calvinism. Wesley became a full preacher September Septem-ber 22. 1728. He was elected a fellow of Lincoln college at 23 years of age, and a master of arta at 24. He became Greek lecturer and a great student In Hebrew, Arabic. Latin, logic, ethics, metaphysics, philosophy, and poetry. Here at Lincoln college,, which wa founded to counteract counter-act heresies dangerou to the established church, Wealey wa connected for more than a quarter of a century, and developed devel-oped those ideas which finally resulted In his separation from the Episcopal church and the founding of Methodism. The name of Methodism was bestowed because John and his brother Charles lived In strict conformity to methods laid down In th Bible. , In 1829, at Oxford, he Joined "The Holy Club" formed by his brother Charles, for the study of the Bible along spiritual and i JOHN WESLEY. , humanitarian line. Among Its members was George Whltefiold. The Wesley brothers came to Georgia. America, In-1735. and began the preaching of Methodism In the New World, where they were later joined by the able George Whltefleld. , Then began that great spiritual awakening awak-ening In both England and America, which resulted In that great schism from the Church of England, and which, known as Methodism. Is today the greatest nonconformist non-conformist doctrine of the Protestant church. f When John Wesley died In 1791 there were about 175,000 members In his following. follow-ing. At the Accumenlcal Methodist con-i con-i fcrence in London in 1901. the following figures were given: Ministers, 48,334; local lo-cal preachers, 104,786; churches. 89,087; members, 7,659,285; Sunday-schools. 81.228; teachers and officers, 861.392; scholars, 7.077.079; adherents. 24,899.421. . |