Chatham County GaArchives History .....Chapter IX - History of Savannah 1913 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 23, 2004, 9:30 pm p. 70 CHAPTER IX JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY JOHN WESLEY AND HIS LABORS—ABUSE OF WESLEY—NEW "SECRETARY OF THE TRUST"—WESLEY AND SOPHIA (HOPKINS) WILLIAMSON—MR. WESLEY'S STATEMENT OF THE TROUBLE—THE TRUSTEES TREAT THE MATTER LIGHTLY—CHARLES WESLEY DEPARTS FOR ENGLAND—WHITE-FIELD SUCCEEDS JOHN WESLEY. After a stay of some seven months in England, Tomo-chi-chi returned to Georgia, reaching Savannah on the 27th of December, 1734. Oglethorpe remained in England resuming his seat in parliament where he saw to the enactment of the laws concerning slavery and rum referred to in the preceding chapter. He secured for the colony a large number of emigrants to go with him on his return, and they, amounting to two hundred and twenty in all, left London on the 13th of October, 1735. The next day Oglethorpe, accompanied by the Rev. John Wesley, Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, Rev. Charles Wesley, his brother, student of Christ's Church College, and Reverend Mr. Ingham, of Queen's, went by land to Gravesend, where they embarked on board the Symonds, commanded by Capt. Joseph Cornish. Besides this ship there was the London Merchant, Capt. John Thomas, which took on board such of the people as could not be accommodated on the Symonds. Just before this the Moravians, led by the Rev. Gottlieb Spangenberg and assisted by Count Zinzendorf, arrived in Georgia and made their home on the Savannah river between the town and Ebenezer; and they were closely followed by the Scotch Highlanders, under the care of their spiritual guide, the Rev. John McLeod, who settled at a point about sixteen miles above St. Simon's Island up the Altamaha river which they called New Inverness. Here they lived, and they were a great help to Oglethorpe in the troubles with the Spanish in Florida, as well as to Georgia in her dark days covering the period of the American Revolution. Among these highlanders were the McIntosh family and the Mackays. A road from their settlement to Savannah was laid out by Capt. Hugh Mackay, aided by Indian guides furnished by Tomo-chi-chi, which is still known as the Darien road, Darien being the present name of -the first settlement known as New Inverness. ----------------- p. 71 JOHN WESLEY AND HIS LABORS John Wesley, in his journal on Thursday, February 19, 1736, says of his arrival: "My brother and I took boat, and passing by Savannah, went to pay our first visit in America to the poor heathens. But neither Tomo-Chachi nor Sinauky was at home. Coming back we waited upon Mr. Causton, the chief magistrate of Savannah. From him we went with Mr. Spangenberg to the German brethren. About eleven we returned to the boat, and came to our ship about four in the morning." Charles Wesley came to Georgia with a commission from the trustees as secretary of Indian affairs for the colony of Georgia, and was the private .secretary to General Oglethorpe. While considering the matter of providing for the spiritual care of the colonists and the conversion of the Indians, John Wesley was named to the trustees as a man well qualified for that work by Doctor Burton, president of Corpus Christi College as well as one of the Georgia trustees. Mr. Wesley was introduced to Oglethorpe by Doctor Burton, and the mission was at once tendered to him but was promptly declined. He was finally persuaded to accept the position and the two brothers together engaged to accept service in the new colony. Of his first act in entering upon his duties John Wesley made this note in his journal under date •Sunday the 7th of March. "I entered upon my ministry at Savannah by preaching on the epistle for the day, being the thirteenth of the first of Corinthians." In a postscript to a letter written to the trustees February 27, 1736, Oglethorpe mentioned the fact that "Mr. Wesleys' are gone up to Toma-chi-chi Mico, and live with Mr. Musgrove in his neighborhood six miles from Savannah where he has built a new town" and on the 16th of March following he said: "Mr. John Wesley ------------ p. 72 is at Savannah and I have desired him to state ye case of ye Salzburgers. Mr. Charles Wesley and Mr. Ingham are working with me." At this time there was some trouble among the Salzburgers, and that fact is evidently alluded to in the quotation just given. On the same day Oglethorpe wrote a letter to Mr. Vat, from Frederica, which so clearly shows his ability to handle difficult matters and to act impartially in every affair in life that it is here given in full as showing his determination to render justice at all times. "I have received the favor of yours and am very sorry to find there are any discontents among the Salzburgers. Mr. Von Reck complains much of you, as well as you of him, I have wrote to him upon the occasion and sent him the heads of what you objected to him, that he may make his defence. I have also desired him to make good what he objects to you, and recommended to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley to state the matter how things have past at Ebenezer, that when I have seen things in a clear light, I may be able to determine them, which I would not do in a matter where such worthy people are concerned, till the truth appeared fully, least I should by rash judgment injure any man's reputation or character." The trouble was that Mr. Von Reck and Sir Bolzius preferred charges against Mr. Vat who had been "appointed secretary of the Salzburgers by the trustees and to him were the stores at Ebenezer entrusted," as said Oglethorpe in a letter to Von Reck the same day, and he added: "He is answerable for them, and till such time as by his behavior I am entitled to dismiss him, it is improper for me to take them from his care nor can I determine any more in his than in your case without a hearing. Mr. Bolzius and you have both accused him, therefore, as I cannot come myself yet to Savannah I refer examining into the matter to Mr. John Wesley who is there entirely unprejudiced. I must again repeat the uneasiness I am under in not being able to assist them personally." John Wesley succeeded the Rev. Samuel Quincy as spiritual guide to the colony, although he always averred that he undertook the task of a missionary with the purpose of using all his powers in the conversion of the Indians. "I never promised to stay here one month I openly declare, both before, and ever since my coming hither, that I neither would nor could take charge of the English any longer than till I could go among the Indians.'' When reminded that his appointment was to be minister at savannah, he answered: "It was done without either my desire or knowledge. Therefore I cannot conceive that that appointment could lay me under any obligation of continuing here longer than till a door is opened to the heathen; and this I expressly declared at the time I consented to accept that appointment." He had been thoroughly impressed with the idea before consenting to leave England for America, that the work among the Indians would be rewarded with favorable results, and that without any vast amount' of persuasion. He took literally to heart the impression conveyed to Oglethorpe in one of his letters that "a door seemed opened for the conversion of the Indians;" but he was doomed to be greatly disappointed, and his-'discouragement was manifest before he had been in Georgia many weeks. He was very favorably impressed with --------------- p. 73 Savannah and its climate. In a letter to his mother he said "the place is pleasant beyond imagination and by all I can learn exceedingly healthful even in summer for those who are not intemperate." His disappointment was twofold. Not only did he find the task of leading the Indians into a true knowledge of Christianity hopeless, but he had to admit after trial that his church work was not acceptable to most of his parishioners. Among those whom he counted as his friends one whom he questioned on this point severely remarked: "I like nothing you do; all your sermons are satires upon particular persons. Therefore I will never hear you more and all the people are of my mind, for we won't hear ourselves abused. Besides, they say they are Protestants, but as for you they can't tell what religion you are of. They never heard of such religion before. They do not know what to make of it. And then your private behavior, all the quarrels that have been here since you came have been along of you. Indeed there is neither man nor woman in the town who minds a word what you say, and so you may preach long enough, but nobody will come to hear you." His stay in Georgia lasted only a year and ten months, but his experience during that short time was varied and exciting. The month of July, 1737, was spent by him partly in visiting from house to house, and he then estimated the number of inhabitants in the town to be 518, all of whom except 149 were over the age of sixteen years. ABUSE OF WESLEY. The malcontents, of course, made him one of the objects of their abusive publication. They said "And now to make our subjection the more complete, a new kind of tyranny was this summer (1737) begun to be imposed upon us; for Mr. John Wesley, who had come over and was received by us as a clergyman of the Church of England, soon discovered that his aim was to enslave our minds, as a necessary preparative for enslaving our bodies. The attendance upon prayer, meetings and sermons inculcated by him, so frequently, and at improper hours, inconsistent with necessary labor, especially in an infant colony, tended to propagate a spirit of indolence and of hypocrisy amongst the more abandoned; it being much easier for such persons, by an affected show of religion, and adherence to Mr. Wesley's novelties, to be provided by his procurement from the public stores, than to use that industry which true religion recommends; nor indeed could the reverend gentleman conceal the designs he was so full of, having frequently declared that he never desired to see Georgia a rich, but a religious* colony. At last all persons of any consideration came to look upon him as a Roman Catholic,'1' and then follow four reasons for so considering him, as (1) "he most unmercifully damned all dissenters of whatever denomination, who were never admitted to communicate with him until they first gave up their faith and principles entirely to his moulding and direction, and in confirmation thereof declared their belief of the invalidity of their former baptism, ___________________ * According to his system. --------------- p. 74 and then to receive a new one from him"; (2) "persons suspected to be Roman Catholics were received and caressed by him as his first rate saints"; (3) "his endeavors to establish confession, penance, mortification, mixing wine with water in the sacrament, and suppressing in the administration of the sacrament the explanation adjoined to the words of communicating by the Church of England"; (4) "as there is always a strict connection betwixt popery and slavery, so the design of all this fine scheme seemed to the most judicious to be calculated to debase and depress the minds of the people, to break any spirit of liberty, and humble them with fastings, penances, drinking of water, and a thorough subjection to the spiritual jurisdiction which he asserted was to be established in his person; and when this should be accomplished the minds of people would be equally prepared for the receiving civil or ecclesiastical tyranny." They charged that, in order to bring about a perfection of his "well concerted scheme" families were divided in parties, spies were engaged in many houses, and the servants of others bribed and decoyed to let them into all secrets of the families they belonged to; nay, those who had given themselves up to his spiritual guidance (more especially the women) were obliged to discover to him their most secret actions, nay even their thoughts and the subject of their dreams.” Mr. Wesley would have done well, and would have succeeded, at least in his work among the colonists, had he followed the advice given him by his friend Doctor Burton who induced him to take up the work in Georgia: "With regard to your behavior and manner of address, you will keep in mind the pattern of St. Paul who became 'all things to all men, that he might gain some.' In every case distinguish between what is essential and what is merely circumstantial to Christianity; between what is indispensable and what is variable; between what is of divine and what is of human authority. I mention this because men are apt to deceive themselves in such cases, and we1 see the traditions and ordinances of men frequently insisted on with more vigor than the commandments of God to which they are subordinate." At the time that the malcontents wrote their bitter specifications against John Wesley, they charged that Mr. Thomas Causton was his companion and abettor in the mischief which they alleged was being made. And, indeed, at that period the two were good friends and acted to a certain extent in co-operation. Those vilifiers asserted of Mr. Wesley that "Mr. Causton and he were hand in hand." Strange to say, however, this same Causton and his family were the instruments through whom Mr. Wesley's career in Georgia not only ended in failure of accomplishing what he confidently expected to do but brought a lasting sorrow to that good man and brought about his leaving Georgia under a heavy cloud which in the minds of some has never been cleared away. Friendship and close fellowship suddenly turned into bitter hatred and the severing of ties which in this life were never re-united. NEW "SECRETARY OF THE TRUST" On the 8th of April, 1737, Mr. William Stephens, of the Isle of Wight, was appointed "Secretary of the Trust within the Province of ------------ p. 75 Georgia," as appears by the minutes of the common council of the trustees, and on the 27th of the same month “a grant of enfeoffment of five hundred acres of land was made by the same body to the said William Stephens and his third son Thomas, and the father was then sworn in as secretary, and instructions to the new officer were read, approved, countersigned and sealed by the Secretary of the Trustees.” This was followed by the reading of "a paper of private instructions to William Stephens." For some reason the trustees requested this officer to delay the time of his departure for Georgia, and on the 10th of August they voted to pay him the sum of thirty-one pounds ten shillings “his expenses, he having waited three months at the request of the trust before he was ordered to imbark for Georgia." From the same minutes we learn that he “sailed the middle of August.” He relates in his journal that owing to adverse circumstances he did not reach Charleston, South Carolina, until October 20; that he departed from that place on the 28th; and he arrived at Savannah at ten o'clock in the morning of the 1st of November. His attention was almost immediately called to the trouble between Mr. John Wesley and a number of the inhabitants, particularly the family of Causton and their followers, for, under date Thursday, November 3d, in concluding his record of the events of the day, he adds: “Afterwards I heard from different hands a long detail of the cause of discord between Mr. Causton and the parson ever since Mr. Williamson married Miss Hopkins (niece of Mr. Causton) which was told me variously, as the relators were inclined; but it was carried now to that height as to engage great part of the town which was so divided that Mr. Causton and Mr. Wesley drew their greatest attention, and the partisans on both sides did not stick to throw plenty of scandal against their adversaries.” WESLEY AND SOPHIA (HOPKINS) WILLIAMSON Unfortunately for Mr. Wesley he had received as a pupil a young woman, Sophia Hopkins, the niece of Thomas Causton, whom he engaged to instruct in the French language. His influence with her was so great that she was converted by his preaching, and joined the church. She was attractive in manners, and was accomplished, and it is generally believed, that Mr. Wesley desired to marry her. Charles Delamotte, who accompanied the Wesleys to Georgia and who was their friend, saw the danger which this intimacy, if continued, was sure to cause, and warned his companion against a too close friendship with his pupil, and it is not a matter of wonder that the clergyman did follow the advice of one whom he knew to be a true friend. Mr. Delamotte had worked in the greatest harmony with John Wesley, had organized a school of between thirty and forty children whom he is said to have taught to "read, write, and cast accounts," and whom Mr. Wesley catechised every Saturday afternoon and before evening service on Sunday. Added to the admonition of this friend was the advice of the Moravian elders, who also became apprehensive that a marriage between the two seemed possible, and that such union could hardly be a happy one. Thus cautioned, Wesley had the good sense to be more guided in his conduct while with the lady, and his changed manner while in her presence was morti- ----------------- p. 76 fying to her, so that she and her friends harbored a feeling of hostility to him which brought to an unhappy end his missionary career in Georgia from which he expected far different results and which he fondly hoped would close in a much more glorious way. He went from one extreme to the other, and, following her marriage to Mr. Williamson shortly after, he dealt severely with her in the matter of her conduct as a church member, declaring that in certain matter she was acting in a manner which warranted him in forbidding her to participate in celebrating the Lord's Supper. This, of course, angered her and her relatives, and on the 8th of August, 1737, Wesley was arrested under a warrant issued by the town recorder in the following terms: “Georgia-Savannah, s.s.—To all Constables, Tythingmen, and others whom these may concern: You and each of you are hereby required to take the body of John Wesley, Clerk, and bring him before one of the Bailiffs of the said Town to answer the complaint of William Williamson and Sophia, his wife, for defaming the said Sophia, and refusing to administer to her the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in a publick Congregation without cause, by which the said William Williamson is damaged One Thousand Pounds Sterling. And for so doing this is your Warrant, certifying what you are to do in the premises. “ Given under my hand and seal the 8th day of Aug., Anno. Dom., 1837. "THO. CHRISTIE." MR. WESLEY'S STATEMENT OP THE TROUBLE Considering the character of Mr. Wesley and his subsequent honorable and saintly life, as well as the circumstances connected with the founding by him of that influential and Godly sect of Christian people, which has done and is still doing, and will continue to do great things in the matter of saving souls, it is only just and proper that his own statement of this unfortunate matter be here given. The first time he alludes to any unpleasantness between himself and Mr. Causton 's people is in the following words: “Sunday, July 3— Immediately after the holy communion I mentioned to Mrs. Williamson (Mr. Causton's niece) some things which I thought reprovable in her behaviour. At this she appeared extremely angry; said she did not expect such usage from me, and at the turn of the street through which we were walking home went abruptly away. The next day Mrs. Causton endeavored to excuse her; told me she was exceedingly grieved for what had passed the day before, and desired me to tell her in writing what I disliked; which I did the day following. But first I sent Mr. Causton the following note: “Sir.—To this hour you have shown yourself my friend. I ever have and ever shall acknowledge it. And it is my earnest desire that He who hath hitherto given me this blessing would continue it still. But this cannot be unless you will allow me one request which is not so easy a one as it appears; do not condemn me for doing, in the execution of my office, what I think it my duty to do. If you can prevail upon yourself to allow me this, even when I act without respect to persons, I am persuaded there will never be, at least not long, any misunderstanding between us. For even those who seek it shall, I trust, find no occasion against me, 'except it be concerning the law of 'my God.' "July 5, 1737. I am, etc." ----------------- p. 77 The next day he wrote: "Mr. Causton came to my house with Mr. Bailiff Parker and Mr. Recorder, and warmly asked 'How could' you possibly think I should condemn you for executing any part of your office ?' I said, short, ' Sir, what if I should think it the duty of my office to repel one of your family from the holy communion?' He replied, ' If you repel me or my wife I should require a legal reason, but I shall trouble myself about no one else. Let them look to themselves.' " We find the next item bearing on the subject recorded by Wesley one month later, when he made this record: “Sunday 7—I repelled Mrs. Williamson from the holy communion. And Monday 8, Mr. Recorder of Savannah issued out the warrant following." This warrant has already been quoted in full. He tells us that he was taken by Jones, the constable, to the recorder's court where he met also the bailiff Parker, and Mr. Williamson; there he denied the charge that he had defamed Mrs. Williamson, and as to the other averment he made answer that "the giving or refusing the Lord's Supper being a matter purely ecclesiastical" he refused to acknowledge the authority of a magistrate to question him on such a point; that Mr. Parker gave him notice that he must appear at the next court to be held in Savannah, when Mr. Williamson said: "Gentlemen, I desire Mr. Wesley may give bail for his appearance," to which Parker responded, "Sir, Mr. Wesley's word is sufficient.” On Wednesday, August 10th, he writes that "Mr. Causton (from a just regard, as his letter expressed it, to the friendship which had existed between us till this affair) required me to give the reasons in the courthouse why I repelled Mrs. Williamson from the holy communion. I answered I apprehend many ill consequences may arise from my so doing; let the cause be laid before the trustees." "Thu. 11. Mr. Causton came to my house, and among other sharp words said, 'Make an end of this matter; thou hadst best. My niece to be used thus! I have drawn the sword, and will never sheath it until I have satisfaction.' “Soon after he added 'Give the reasons of your repelling her before the whole congregation.' I answered, 'Sir, if you insist upon it, I will; and so you may be pleased to tell her.' He said, 'Write to her and tell her so yourself.' I said, 'I will,' and after he went I wrote as follows: " 'To Mrs. Sophia Williamson: " 'At Mr. Causton's request I write once more. The rules whereby I proceed are these: " 'So many as intend to be partakers of the holy communion shall signify their names to the curate at least some time the day before. This you did not do. "And if any of these have done any wrong to his neighbors, by word or deed, so that the congregation be thereby offended, the curate shall advertise him that in any wise he presume not to come to the Lord's table until he hath openly declared himself to have truly repented." If you offer yourself at the Lord's table on Sunday I will advertise you (as I have done more than once) wherein you have done wrong. And when you have openly declared yourself to have truly repented, I will administer to you the mysteries of God. " 'JOHN WESLEY.' " 'August 11, 1737' -------------- p. 78 "Mr. Delamotte carrying this, Mr. Causton said, among other warm sayings, 'I am the person that am injured. The affront is offered to me; and I will espouse the cause of my niece. I am ill used; and I will have satisfaction if it is to be had in the world.' "Which way this satisfaction was to be had I did not yet conceive. But on Friday and Saturday it began to appear:—Mr. Causton declared to many persons that 'Mr. Wesley had repelled Sophy from the holy communion purely out of revenge; because he had made proposals of marriage to her which she rejected and married Mr. Williamson.' "Tues. 16. Mrs. Williamson swore to and signed an affidavit, insinuating more than it asserted; but asserting that Mr. Wesley had many times proposed marriage to her, all which proposals she had rejected. Of this I desired a copy; Mr. Causton replied: 'Sir you may have one from any of the newspapers of America.' "On Thursday or Friday was delivered out a list of twenty-six men who were to meet as a grand jury on Monday the 22d. But this list was called in the next day and twenty-four names added to it. Of this grand jury (forty-four of whom only met) one was a Frenchman who did not understand English, one a Papist, one a professed infidel, three Baptists, sixteen or seventeen others Dissenters, and several others who had personal grounds against me, and had openly vowed revenge. “To the grand jury on Monday the 22d Mr. Causton gave a long and earnest charge 'to beware of spiritual tyranny, and to oppose the new, illegal authority which was usurped over their consciences.' Then Mrs. Williamson's affidavit was read: after which Mr. Causton delivered to the grand jury a paper entitled 'A list of grievances presented by the Grand Jury for Savannah this — day of August, 1737.' "This the majority of the grand jury altered in some particulars, and on Thursday, September 1, delivered it again to the Court under the form of two presentments containing ten bills which were then read to the people. "Herein they asserted upon oath 'That John Wesley, Clerk, had broken the laws of the realm, contrary to the peace of our sovereign lord the King, his crown and dignity. " '1. By speaking and writing to Mrs. Williamson against her husband's consent. " '2. By repelling her from the Holy Communion; " '3. By not declaring his adherence to the Church of England; " '4. By dividing the morning service on Sundays; " '5. By refusing to baptize Mr. Parker's child otherwise than by dipping, except the parents would certify it was weak and not able to bear it; " '6. By repelling Wm. Gough from the Holy Communion: " '7. By refusing to read the burial service over the body of Nathaniel Polhill; " '8. By calling himself Ordinary of Savannah; " ' 9. By refusing to receive Wm. Aglionby as a God-father only because he was not a communicant; " '10. By refusing Jacob Matthews for the same reason, and baptizing an Indian trader's child with only two sponsors.' (This I own was ------------- p. 79 wrong; for I ought at all hazards to have refused baptizing it till he had procured a third.) “Fri. Sep. 2 was the third court at which I appeared since my being carried before Mr. Parker and the recorder. I now moved for an immediate hearing on the first bill, being the only one of a civil nature; but it was refused. I made the same motion in the afternoon; but was put off till the next day. On the next court day I appeared again; as also at the two courts following; but could not be heard because (the judge said) Mr. Williamson was gone out of town. "The sense of the minority of the grand jurors themselves (for they were by no means unanimous) concerning these presentments may appear from the following paper which they transmitted to the Trustees: " ' To the Honorable the Trustees for Georgia: Whereas two Presentments have been made, the one of August 23d, the other of August 31st, by the Grand Jury for .the Town and County of Savannah in Georgia, against John Wesley, Clerk: " 'We, whose names are underwritten, being members of the said Grand Jury, do humbly beg leave to signify our dislike to the said Presentments, being by many and divers circumstances thor'ly persuaded in ourselves that the whole charge against Mr. Wesley is an artifice of Mr. Causton's, designed rather to blacken the character of Mr. Wesley than to free the Colony from Religious Tyranny as he was pleased in his charge to us to term it. But as these circumstances will be too tedious to trouble your Honors with, we shall only beg leave to give the Reasons of our Dissent from the particular Bills. “ 'With regard to the First Bill we do not apprehend that Mr. Wesley acted against any laws by writing or speaking to Mrs. Williamson, since it does not appear to us that the said Mr. Wesley has either spoke in private or wrote to the said Mrs. Williamson since March 12,* except one letter of July the 5th, which he wrote at the request of her aunt, as a Pastor, to exhort and reprove her. “ ' The Second we do not apprehend to be a true Bill because we humbly conceive Mr. Wesley did not assume to himself any authority contrary to Law: for we understand every person intending to communicate should "signify his name to the Curate at least some time the day before," which Mrs. Williamson did not do: altho' Mr. Wesley had often, in full congregation, declared he did insist on a compliance with that Rubrick, and had before repelled divers persons for non-compliance therewith. “ ' The Third we do not think a true Bill because several of us have been hearers when he has declared his adherence to the Church of England in a stronger manner than by a formal Declaration; by explaining and defending the Apostles,' the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds, the Thirty-Nine Articles, the whole Book of Common Prayer, and the Homilies of the said Church: and because we think a formal Declaration is not required but from those who have received Institution and Induction. “ ' The fact alleged in the Fourth Bill we cannot apprehend to be contrary to any law in being. __________ * Sophia Hopkins and William Williamson were married that day. ------------ p. 80 " 'The Fifth we do not think a true Bill because we conceive Mr. Wesley is justified by the Kubrick, viz.: "If they (the Parents) certify that the child is weak, it shall suffice to pour water upon, it:" intimating (as we humbly suppose) it shall not suffice if they do not certify. " 'The Sixth cannot be a true Bill because the said William Gough, being one of our members, was surprised to hear himself named without his knowledge of privity, and did publickly declare it was no grievance to him, because the said John Wesley had given him reasons with which he was satisfied. “ ' The Seventh we do not apprehend to be a true Bill, for Nathaniel Polhill was an Anabaptist, and desired in his lifetime that he might not be interred with the Office of the Church of England. And further, we have good reason to believe that Mr. Wesley was at Frederica, or on his return thence, when Polhill was buried. " " 'As to the Eighth Bill, we are in doubt, as not well knowing the meaning of the word Ordinary. But for the Ninth and Tenth we think Mr. Wesley is sufficiently justified by the Canons of the Church which forbid any person to be admitted Godfather or Godmother to any child before the said person has received the Holy Communion; whereas William Aglionby and Jacob Matthews had never certified Mr. Wesley that they had received it.' “This was signed by twelve of the grand jurors of whom three were constables and six more were tithingmen who consequently would have made a majority had the jury consisted, as it regularly should have done, of only fifteen members, viz., the four constables and eleven tithingmen. "Oct. 7. I consulted my friends whether God did not call me to return to England? The reason for which I left it had now no force, there being no possibility as yet of instructing the Indians; neither had I as yet found or heard of any Indians on the continent of America who had the least desire of being instructed. And as to Savannah, having never engaged myself, either by word or letter, to stay there a day longer than I should judge convenient, nor ever taken charge of the people any otherwise than as in my passage to the Heathens I looked upon myself to be fully discharged thereupon by the vacating of that design. Besides there was a good probability of doing more service to that unhappy people in England than I could do in Georgia by representing, without fear or favor, to the Trustees the real state the colony was in. After deeply considering these things they were unanimous 'That I ought to go; but not yet.' So I laid the thoughts of it aside for the moment, being persuaded that when the time was come God would ' make the way plain before my face.' "Thu. Nov. 3. I appeared again at the court holden on that day. and again at the court held Tues. Nov. 22d, on which day Mr. Causton desired to speak with me. He then read me some affidavits which had been made Sept. loth last past, in one of which is was affirmed that I had abused Mr. Causton in his own house, calling him a liar, villain, and' so on. It was now likewise repeated before some persons, which, indeed, I had forgot, that I had been reprimanded at the last court for an enemy to and hindrance of the public peace. "I again consulted my friends who agreed with me that the time we -------------- p. 81 looked for was now come. And the next morning, calling on Mr. Cans-ton, I told him I designed to set out for England immediately. I set up an advertisement in the Great Square to the same effect, and quietly prepared for my journey. "Fri. Dec. 2. I proposed to set out for Carolina about noon, the tide then serving. But about ten the magistrates sent for me and told me I must not go out of the Province; for I had not answered the allegations laid against me. I replied 'I have appeared at six or seven courts successively, in order to answer them. But I was not suffered to do so, when I desired it time after time.' Then they said I must not go unless I would give them security to answer those allegations at their court. I' asked, 'What security?' After consulting together about two hours, the recorder showed me a kind of bond engaging me, under a penalty of fifty pounds, to appear at their court when I should be required. He added, 'But Mr. Williamson too has desired of us that you should give bail to answer his action.' I then told him plainly, 'Sir, you use me very ill, and so you do the Trustees. I will give neither any bond nor any bail at all. You know your business and I know mine.' "In the afternoon the magistrates published an order requiring all the officers and centinels to prevent my going out of the Province, and forbidding any person to assist me so to do. Being now only a prisoner at large in a place where I knew by experience every day would give fresh opportunity to procure evidence of words I never said and actions I never did, I saw clearly the hour was come for leaving this place and as soon as evening prayers were over, about eight o'clock, the tide then serving, I shook off the dust of my feet, and left Georgia, after having preached the Gospel there (not as I ought, but as I was able) one year and nine months.” Mr. Wesley does not state in his journal who went with him, or how the journey was made, except that he landed at Purysburg the next morning and went thence to Beaufort on foot, and that there he took a boat which conveyed him to Charleston. William Stephens in his “Journal of the Proceedings in Georgia," Vol. 1, pp. 41-47, relates that he had as companions from Savannah three men whose character was not good, named Coates, Gough and Campbell, but he seems to have been prejudiced against Mr. Wesley, and it is not likely that Wesley willingly associated, in this emergency, with dissolute persons. Stephens had little use for any clergyman who did not strictly conform to the rules and practice of the Church of England as demanded by the Book of Common Prayer, and he doubtless exaggerated somewhat the facts as they came to his knowledge. THE TRUSTEES TREAT THE MATTER LIGHTLY The Trustees did not apparently consider the Williamson-Causton suit against Mr. Wesley a matter of serious import. In the minutes of that body on December 7, 1737, this record was made: "Read several letters from Mr. Williamson of Savannah, complaining of the Rev. Mr. John Wesley's having refused the sacrament to his wife, Mrs. Sophia Williamson, with Mr. Williamson's affidavit thereupon, and two pre- --------------- p. 82 sentments of the Grand Jury of the Rev. Mr. Wesley for the said refusal, and for several other facts laid to his charge. Ordered, that copies of the said letters and affidavit be sent over to the Rev. Mr. John Wesley, desiring him to return his answer for the same as soon as possible; and that a letter be sent to Mr. Williamson to acquaint him of the said copies being sent to Mr. Wesley; and that if he has anything new to lay before the Trustees he should show it first to Mr. Wesley and then send it over to them; and that the Trustees think he should not have made his application to the World by advertising his complaints before acquainting the Trustees with them.” Not until February 22, 1738, did this matter again appear in the minutes of the Trustees, when it was recorded that “The Rev. Mr. John Wesley attended and delivered into the Board a Narrative of his own .relating to the complaints of Mrs. Williamson and three certificates, one signed by James Burnside, dated Savannah, November 1, 1737, another, of the same date, signed by Margaret Burnside, and another signed by Charles Delamotte, dated Savannah, October 25, 1737." And lastly, on the 26th of April, 1738, the final action of the Trustees in this matter is thus mentioned: "The Rev'd Mr. John Wesley attended, and left the appointment of him by the Trustees to perform Ecclesiastical offices in Georgia: “Resolved, That the authority granted to the Rev 'd Mr. John Wesley to do and perform all religious and Ecclesiastical offices in Georgia, dated October 10, 1735, be revoked." CHARLES WESLEY DEPARTS FOR ENGLAND Meanwhile Charles Wesley, the brother, who had accepted the position of secretary to General Oglethorpe, as also secretary of Indian Affairs for the colony of Georgia, and had made Frederica his home, had his own troubles and had, after a stay in Georgia of only five months and one week, departed for England. He landed on Georgia soil on the 19th of February, 1736, and after a short stay in Savannah he reached his new home on St. Simon's island on the 9th of March. His reception was not at all such as he had anticipated and his services were distasteful to the people. His biographer, Southey, says: " He attempted the doubly difficult task of reforming the gross improprieties and reconciling some of the petty jealousies and quarrels with each other; in which he effected little else than making them unite in opposing him, and caballing to get rid of him in any way." Those discontented persons complained to Oglethorpe, and on this point Southey adds: "The Governor, who had causes enough to disquiet him, arising from the precarious state of the colony, was teased and soured by the complaints which were perpetually brought against the two brothers, and soon began to wish that he had brought with him men of more practicable tempers." However, Oglethorpe did not long harbor a spirit of vexation, and felt that he had been unjust toward that godly man who, in his deep distress, wrote concerning the unfriendly conduct of Oglethorpe '' I know not how to account for his increasing coldness." But the Christian spirit of the founder of Georgia asserted itself in this as in all other instances, and the reconciliation ---------------- p. 83 was as complete as either of the men could have wished. Writers who have touched upon this matter have referred to this reconciliation as happening at a time when Oglethorpe was "on the eve of setting out upon a dangerous expedition.”* This must have been the occasion described on his return in a letter to the Trustees, dated May 11, 1736: “I have been down to the Southward to quell a Mutiny among our Frontier Garrison. The Spaniards have, I apprehend, detained the persons I sent down to treat with them, contrary to faith, and I have sent up some launches to view us. I am forced to set out immediately to throw succour into the Frontier Garrison, who I expect will be attacked every hour." Charles Wesley describes the scene with his superior, saying that on that occasion General Oglethorpe sent for him and said to him; "You will soon see the reasons for my actions. I am going to death. You will see me no more. Take this ring and carry it from me to Mr. V______. If there is a friend to be depended upon, he is one. His interest is next to Sir Robert's. Whatever you ask within his power he will do for you, your brother, and your family. I have expected death for some days. These letters show that the Spaniards have long been seducing our allies, and intend to cut us off at a blow. I fall by my friends:—Gascoigne whom I have made, the Carolina people upon whom I depended to send their promised succour. But death is to me nothing. T______ will pursue all my designs, and to him I recommend them and you." "He then gave me a diamond ring," continued Charles Wesley, in his journal, "I took it and said, 'If, as I believe, Postremum fato quod te alloquor, hoc est, hear what you will quickly know to be true as soon as you are entered upon a separate state. This ring I shall never make use of for myself. I have no worldly hopes. I have renounced the world. Life is bitterness to me. I came hither to lay it down. You have been deceived as well as I. I protest my innocence of the crimes I am charged with, and take myself to be now at liberty to tell you what I thought I should never have uttered.' [Cipher words in the manuscript.] When I finished this relation he seemed entirely changed and full of his old love and confidence in me. After some expressions of kindness, I asked him 'Are you satisfied ?' He replied 'Yes, entirely.' 'Why then, sir, I desire nothing more upon earth, and care not how soon I follow you.' * * * He then embraced and kissed me with the most cordial affection." Mr. Wesley then describes the departure of Oglethorpe from Frederica, and how they met again on his return from the South. Returning the ring he said to the general "I need not, sir, and indeed I can not tell you how joyfully and thoughtfully I return this." To this Oglethorpe replied "When I gave it to you I never expected to receive it again, but thought it would be of service to your brother and you. I had many omens of my death, particularly their bringing me my mourning sword,** but God has been pleased to preserve a life which was never valuable to me, and yet in the continuance of it, I thank God, I can re- _________ * History of Georgia, by Chas. C. Jones, Jr., Vol. I, pp. 277-278. ** Which had been handed to him twice while he was preparing for his going southward and which he refused, taking finally his own sword that had belonged to his father, with which he asserted he had never been unsuccessful. ------------ p. 84 joice." Wesley answered "I am now glad of all that has happened here, since without it I could never have had such a proof of your affection as that you gave me when you looked upon me as the most ungrateful of villains." Charles Wesley fully resolved in the month of June to resign his commission and when he left Georgia he believed another would shortly take his place. He and General Oglethorpe were as good friends as ever, and he was the bearer of important papers from the latter to the trustees. His intention, however, was not made known to the board at that time, and on this subject Mr. Wesley wrote what Oglethorpe said to him as follows: "I would not let the trustees know your resolution of resigning. There are many hungry fellows ready to catch at the office, and, in my absence, I cannot put in one of my > own choosing. The best I can hope for is an honest Presbyterian, as many of the trustees are such. Perhaps they may send me a bad man, and how far such a one may influence the traders and obstruct the reception of the Gospel among the heathen, you know. I shall be in England before you leave it. Then you may either put in a deputy or resign." He retained his office until the month of April, 1738, at which time Oglethorpe, who said he was "unwilling to lose so honest and faithful an officer," still tried to persuade him to hold on to the work; but Charles Wesley felt that it was time to let some other man take his place, and his resignation was accepted in May. Thus the service of Charles came to an end in a shorter time than did that of his more famous brother John, although his troubles were really small compared with those of the latter. The only record in the minutes of the trustees bearing on the subject of the resignation appears in the journal of the common council of that body of May 3, 1738, when it was "resolved that Mr. John Clarke be appointed secretary for the Indian Affairs in the room of the Rev. Mr. Charles Wesley." WHITEFIELD SUCCEEDS JOHN WESLEY In recording the incidents connected with the life of John Wesley in Georgia some writers have used language which may be termed harsh and even bitter. How they could apply to him some of the expressions employed in criticising his conduct, with all the evidence before them, seems incredible. That he was indiscreet in some instances cannot be denied; but that he was the tyrant that some of his enemies would have us believe is utterly untrue. Let these facts not be lost sight of: that his most implacable enemy, Thomas Causton, himself a man of high ambition with the determination at all times of showing his authority and unceasingly endeavoring to assert and enforce it, was a bad man, and, as his subsequent career shows, was at the very time he was persecuting Mr. Wesley far exceeding that authority in many respects and held under his lash many who, but for fear of him, would have sided with the latter; that William Stephens, whose journal is made the basis of the worst attacks on Mr. Wesley's character, did not reach Savannah until the matters' complained of were the subject of the town talk, and that he persistently opposed all departures from the forms and customs ----------- p. 85 of the Church of England; that Causton was, for the time being, what is now termed a "political boss" in the district in which he lived, absolutely controlling the officers of the court and seeing to it that a majority of the jurors drawn for the trial would render a verdict such as would please him; and finally that the incident which led to the abrupt departure of Mr. Wesley was one which should never have had publicity and that it was made public just because Mr. Causton wanted to humiliate him for his daring to assert authority, even ecclesiastical authority, over one of his household. Not having the slightest suspicion of the trouble in store for him, and with the anticipation of having a hearty co-worker with him in the good work he expected to do in Georgia, John Wesley, some time between the 3d and the 22d of December, 1736, wrote a letter from Savannah to George Whitefleld, who had been ordained to the ministry in the June previous, saying: "Only Mr. Delamotte is with me, till God shall stir up the hearts of some of His servants who, putting their lives in His hands, shall come over and help us, when the harvest is so great, and the labourers so few. What if thou art the man, Mr. Whitefield?" We are told by Mr. Whitefield himself that in another letter Wesley said: "Do you ask me what you shall have? Food to eat, and raiment to put on; a house to lay your head in, such as your Lord had not; and a crown of glory which fadeth not away;” and Whitefield adds “Upon reading this my heart leaped within me, and, as it were, echoed to the call. Many things concurred to make my way clear. * * * These things being thoroughly weighed, I at length resolved to embark for Georgia." He was, indeed, the man, as Wesley predicted, but it so happened that the two men were destined not to work together in the same field. Before Whitefield sailed from England the clouds began to gather about Wesley, and his way was changed so abruptly that at the time he was entering the port of Deal, England, in February, 1738, as he states it "on the anniversary festival in Georgia, for Mr. Oglethorpe's landing there," Whitefield departed from the same point, as the Rev. Dr. T. M. Harris said "on a mission; not to be his coadjutor, as he expected, but, as it proved, his successor." * The strength of John Wesley's influence and the growth of the powerful church with which his name is indissolubly associated are both attested by the building of that most suitable monument in the form of an ecclesiastical edifice in the heart of the city which was his home and which unce spurned his labors and rejoiced in his speedy departure from her borders, but now rejoices in the fact that he did live in her midst and walk her streets. __________ * Memorials of Oglethorpe, p. 170. Additional Comments: From: A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA BY WILLIAM HARDEN VOLUME I ILLUSTRATED THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1913 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/chatham/history/other/gms399chapteri.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 49.8 Kb