WESLEY, .Tons (1703-91). An English clergyman, generally known as the founder of Methodism. He was born at Epworth, in Lin colnshire, the fifteenth child of the Bev. Samuel Wesley, and of a family which had been known as nonconformists. though Samuel had taken orders in the Church of England. At ten he was sent to Charterhouse School, where for a time he suffered from the persecutions of the older boys, but finally won a place in the esteem of all. In 1720 he matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford. Be took his degree in 1724, and not long after began to think about following his father's profession. He was ordained deacon in 1725. and in the next year elected a fellow of Lincoln College. Ordained priest in 1725, for a while be acted as curate to his father at Epworth, but was recalled to Oxford by the college regulations:. Finding his brother Charles and some other undergraduates associated in what was called by unsympathetic outsiders the 'Holy Club,' he naturally saw much of them. and became practically their director. On his father's death he was urged to accept the living of Ep worth, but thought his place was at Oxford.
It was not long, however, before he changed his mind. and was persuaded to go with General Oglethorpe as a missionary to Georgia. sion was not altogether a success; lie was re garded as too strict. and some of the points on which he insisted were not thought to he in harmony with Protestantism. His sojourn in Georgia was not, however, without fruit, and his departure was regarded as a real loss to the colony. On his voyage to Savannah, he met for the first time sonic of the Moravian Brethren, whose slit pie eyangelienl piety made a deep im pression on him. On his return to London, he sought them out, and from Peter Baler, one of their preachers, imbibed the doctrine of 'saving faith,' and broke away from the influence of William Law, which had been strong in his earlier life.
In the summer of 1735 he went abroad to visit their lenders• and spent some time at Herrn hut and with Zinzendorf at Marienhorn. Ile eorresponded with Zinzendorf for smile time, and his letters are still preserved at Me•rnggts qua new experiences 111:1(10 a vital difference in him.
Ile associated with )loravians in England, and with other societies interested in the growth of the spiritual life.
Early in 1739 he tool: more definite steps in O. direction he was afterwards to follow.
friend George Minefield invited him to Bristol. When lie saw Whitefield preaching in the open air, his High Church principles were at first offended, but on April 2d he preached his first open-air sermon, and thus began what was really his life work. His success in the neigh borhood of Bristol was so great that a special place had to be built in which to care for the converts. A still more important step was taken on July 20, 1740, when he formed the first so ciety under his direction. They met in a build ing called the Foundry, formerl Government property. but long disused. near Finsbury Square in London, which for many years was the head quarters of Methodism.
The success of his preaching soon called hint so Mitch away from his societies that he was unable to give them proper care. In 1742 one of his followers proposed that the members should be divided into bands of twelve, with a leader over each. The plan was adopted and worked well. The leaders reported to Wesley the conduct of the members and the receipt of money. The class-meetings tints originated con tributed greatly to the success of the move ment. Welley now preached frequently all about London and Bristol. But the fervor and en thusiasm of his converts was looked upon with suspicion by the clergy in general, accustomed to an orderly and 'respectable' conduct of reli gious., matters. He began to develop his organi zation by the appointment of lay preachers. who were to be communicants of the Church of Eng land, and not to conflict in their preaching with the church services. Among the early preachers of this sort were John Cenniek and Thomas Maxfield. In 1744 the first conference of his principal helpers was held.