Questionable Amusements and Worthy SubstitutesJudy, J. M.
Religion
Questionable Amusements and Worthy Substitutes
Judy, J. M.
Amusements -- Religious aspects -- Methodist Church; Christian ethics
Paul's and Westminster is of the Church of
England. What shall we say of Westminster Abbey, the most impressive
place of all our travel! As my friend and I entered here and took
our seats for divine worship, preparatory to visiting her halls, and
chapels, and tombs, I think I was never more deeply impressed. I said to
myself, "What does God mean to allow me to worship here?" and I seemed
to realize how little my past life had been. I felt that circumstances
and not I myself had thrust this new privilege, and thereby new
responsibility, upon me. Westminster Abbey! A church for the living,
a burial-place for the honored dead; a monument to genius, labor, and
virtue; England's "temple of fame;" the most solemn spot in Europe, if
not in the world! Here lie authors, benefactors, and poets; statesmen,
heroes, and rulers, the best of English blood since Edward the
Confessor, 1049 A.D. We must now leave this sacred spot to visit, if
possible for us, a more sacred one, the birthplace of Methodism, or
more accurately speaking, in the words of Bishop Warren, the "cradle of
Methodism."
On City Road, London, near Liverpool Street Station, is located the
house, chapel, burial-grounds, and tomb of John Wesley. Across the
street, in an old Nonconformist cemetery, are the graves of James Watt,
Daniel Defoe, and John Bunyan. Across the narrow street to the north
is the tabernacle of Whitefield. We learned that Friday, July 7th, was
reopening day for Wesley's Chapel. What a distinguished body of persons
we found at this meeting! Dr. Joseph Parker was the speaker of the day.
The Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, president of the Conference, presided at the
memorial services. Rev. Westerdale, present pastor, successfully managed
the program of the day, especially the collections, for he met the
expense of the rebuilding and past indebtedness with the sum of over
fifteen thousand dollars. He told those discouraged ministers with big
audiences to go and take courage from what the mother-church, with her
small number of poor parishioners, had done. In the evening, Bishop
Warren, on his return to America, called in and gave an interesting
talk. He was followed by Fletcher Moulton, member of Parliament. You
may not realize the feeling of gratitude with which we took part in this
eventful service of praise, prayer, and rededication! On the next day we
returned to see the books, furniture, and apartments of Wesley, himself.
We sat at his writing desk, stood in his death-chamber, and lingered
in the little room where he used to retire at four in the morning for
secret prayer. From here he would go directly to his preaching service
at five. Wesley put God first in his life, this is why men honor him so
much now that he is gone. We took a farewell view of the audience-room
from the very pulpit into which Wesley ascended to preach his Good News
of Christ. From the several inscriptions on Wesley's tomb, we copied
the following one: "After having languished a few days, he at length
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account