JOHN WESLEY, JR. The Story of an Experiment BY DAN B. BRUMMITT 1921 TO THOMAS KANE, "LAYMAN," WHOSE LONG LIFE OF NOBLE SERVICE IS BEARING FRUIT IN A NEW CHRISTIAN CONSCIENCE TOWARDS THE SUPPORT OF THE WORK OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM IN ALL THE WORLD AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EDUCATIONAL, MISSIONARY AND BENEVOLENT WORK OF THE CHURCH CONTENTS CHAPTER THE GENESIS OF THE EXPERIMENT I. AN INSTITUTE PANORAMA II. JOHN WESLEY, JR.'S BRINGING UP III. CAMPUS DAYS IV. EXPLORING MAIN STREET V. HERE THE ALIEN; THERE THE LITTLE BROWN CHURCH VI. "IS HE NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER?" VII. THE FIRST AMERICAN CIVILIZATION VIII. CHRIST AND THE EAST THIS EXPERIMENT TEACHETH--? ILLUSTRATIONS THE CARTWRIGHT INSTITUTE THE WESLEY FOUNDATION SOCIAL CENTER (This one is at Illinois University) MAIN STREET THE TENEMENTS OF MANY DELAFIELDS ONE OF THE HIGH LIGHTS OF MAIN STREET ONE OF THE CANNERY COLONY THERE'S HOPE FOR THE NEGRO IN A SCHOOL LIKE THIS THE MEXICAN'S HOME IN THE SOUTHWEST THE MEXICAN'S CHURCH IN THE SOUTHWEST DR. JOE CARBROOK DOES SUCH WORK AS THIS IN CHINA THE GENESIS OF THE EXPERIMENT After years of waiting for time and place and person, the Rev. Walter Drury, an average Methodist preacher, was ready to begin his Experiment. The process of getting adjusted to its conditions was ended. He believed that, if he had health and nothing happened to his mind, he might count on at least eight years more at First Church, Delafield--a ten-year pastorate is nothing wonderful in to-day's Methodism. The right preacher makes his own time limit. He would not think himself too good for Delafield, but neither did he rate himself too low. He just felt that he was reasonably secure against promotion, and that he need not be afraid of "demotion." There are such men. They are a boon to bishops. The unforeseen was to be reckoned with, of course, the possible shattering of all his plans by some unimagined misfortune. But the man who waits until he is secure against the unknown never discovers anything, not even himself. Walter Drury had at last found his man, or, rather, his boy, here in Delafield. It was necessary to the Experiment that its subject should be a decent young fellow, not particularly keen on formal religion, but well set-up in body and mind; clean, straight, and able to use the brains he had when need arose. John Wesley, Jr., was such a boy. Would the result be worth what he was putting into the venture? That would depend on one's standards. The church doesn't doubt that the more than twice ten years' experiment of Helms in the south end of Boston has been worth the price. And Helms has for company a few pioneers in other fields who will tell you they have drawn good pay, in the outcomes of their patience.