It would be interesting to follow these men and learn the results of
their lives; but our space does not permit. We refer the reader to that
most excellent work, _The Oxford Methodists_, by Tyerman. Of Robert
Kirkham little or nothing is known. William Morgan died while a mere
youth, and died well. John Clayton became a Jacobite Churchman, and
treated Wesley and his brother Charles with utter contempt. Thomas
Broughton became secretary of the "Society for the Promotion of
Christian Knowledge," and was faithful to his trust till death. He died
suddenly upon his knees, on a Sabbath morning just before he was to have
preached. James Harvey, author of _Meditations_, was a man of beautiful
character, but opposed Wesley's Arminian views. Charles Kinchin, unlike
most of the "Holy Club," remained the fast friend of Wesley until death.
John Whitelamb married John Wesley's sister Mary, who died within one
year, leaving her husband broken-hearted and despondent. He seems to
have lost much of his early devotion, causing Mr. Wesley to say, "O, why
did he not die forty years ago?" Wesley Hall married John Wesley's
sister Martha, a lady of superior talents and sweetness of disposition.
Wesley regarded Hall as a man "holy and unblamable in all manner of
conversation." After some years Hall went to the bad. He became, first,
a Dissenter, then a Universalist, then a deist, after that a polygamist.
He abandoned his charming wife, nine of his ten children having died,
and the tenth soon followed. He went to the West Indies with one of his
concubines, living there until her death. Broken in health and awakened
to his terrible condition, he returned to England, where he soon after
died. His lawful and faithful wife, hearing of his condition, like an
angel of mercy hastened to his bedside. He died in great sorrow of
heart, saying--and they were his last words--"I have injured an angel,
an angel that never reproached me." Wesley says: "I trust he died in
peace, for God gave him deep repentance." John Gambold became a Moravian
bishop, and was so opposed to Wesley that he frankly told him he was
"ashamed to be seen in his company." Wesley, however, always held him in
high esteem. Of Richard Hutchins little is known, except that he was
rector of Lincoln College, and never seems to have opposed the Wesleys.
Christopher Atkinson was for twenty-five years vicar of Shorp-Arch and
Walton. His last words were, "Come, Lord Jesus, and come quickly."
Charles Delamotte was one who accompanied the Wesleys to Georgia. Little
further is known of him, except that he became a Moravian and died in
peace at Barrow upon the Humber.
Here ends our account of the "Holy Club." All of them maintained a
correct life except Hall. They were nearly all Calvinists, and in this
they came in conflict with Wesley. Had they remained with Wesley, what a
record they might have made! We trust their end was peace.
A TRIUMPHANT DEATH SCENE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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