San Francisco Call, Volume 69, Number 92, 2 March 1891 — JOHN WESLEY'S FAME. [ARTICLE]

JOHN WESLEY'S FAME.

The One Hundredth Annirersary of His Death. An Interesting Sermon by Eev. Dr. Leech on the Life and Works of the Famous Founder of Methodism.

Rev. S. V. Leech, .pastor of the Howardstreet M. K. Church, preached yesterday on "John Wesley's Place in Ecclesiastical History," the occasion being the one hundredth anniversary of the death of the founder of Methodism, For his text he chose the. thir-ty-eighth verse of the third chapter of Second Samuel, which reads: "Know ye not that a great wan and a prince has fallen this day in Israel?" In opening his address the minUter referred at some length to the early yours of Wesley and to the fact that they gave promise of future greatness. Briefly be outlined me ancestry and history of the famous preacher, and stated, Inferentially, that with such a mother it was no wonder that John and Charles Wesley became such leaders of religious thought and achieved such deathless honor in the service of God. Her mental and moral endowments were of a lofty character. Carefully and broadly she laid, ii, her maternal Instructions, the massive foundations of her children's success ill. lile. HIS SCHOOL, DAYS. Atshool John Wesley won the honor of standing at all times in the front rauk as a student, and when he had completed his course be was called to Oxford us a tutor.' Here he remained until he was 32 years o;d, ben he went as a missionary to the colonies. He chose Georgia as his held of labor and accompanied Governor OseltUorpe to Savannah, his brother Charles acting as the Governor's private secretary. After three years spent in Savnnnali he relumed to London, at the age of 35, still a Bign-cburchman in his religions belief, but in reading Luther's introduction to the Epistles to tbe Koranns be began to experience a change of opinion. For days he de--1 -lid the mutter in his own mind, and then began preaching to congregations outsida i :'■■■ established church. l;y the biahfips mid rectors lie was regarded as a fanatic, and the established church was soon closed against him. Nothing daunted, however, this wonderful man went among Urn people, preaching in public halls and in the open air, and thousands eked to hear him. Ho ereat was the success of his ministration that in five years twenty-three lay preachers were ministering under his direction. Wesley traveled 5000 miles a year and preached weekly from fourteen to twentyeight sermons, resting neither day nor niuut During the last lifty years of his life he rode a quarter of a million miles on horseback and preached 42,000 times. Before he died lie had 811 preachers in his employ and 120,000 per-ons acknowledged membership in his societies. He founded schools, edited a monthly mngizine, presided at conferences, decided ecclesiastical questions and personally supervised all the details of the great work under his charge. Among other tilings lie founded many free schools, established a publishing-house and collected money to release worthy men from the debtor's prisons. ■wesi.et's fame.. " He was," said Dr. Leech. "a wonderful ecclesiastical statesman. His statesmanship ' was displayed conspicuously ill nis transfer of power at death to the legal hundred. "A rain of great benevolence, he cave away about all he ever received. Hi' gave away the 150,000 received from his literary publications. When the Tax Commissioners demanded a catalogue of his possessions he could name oily lour silver teaspoons and his library. '■Intellectually, he was a prince. He grappled with the greatest questions of his time with a rare discernment and power." In conclusion, Dr. Lueh said: "John Wesley's place in ecclesiastical history will always bo an exalted one. He will forever occupy a lofty position as a preacher, An elevated niche as a writer, a sublime height as an ecclesiastical statesman, organizer, evangelist and man."