History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

The period from 1739 to 1744 was a formative one under the Wesleys and Whitefield. They
traversed England, burning and shining lights. Their itinerating labors were crowned with
unprecedented success in evangelizing the people. For a time the scattered converts took no
organized form. Neither Charles Wesley nor Whitefield had the qualities of leadership exhibited by
John Wesley, and which from the first gave him the right of way in the whole movement for
spreading scriptural holiness over the land. He was, perhaps, unconscious of assuming this position.
He simply acted out himself in following an indomitable will, chastened by divine grace. As converts
to the doctrine multiplied they met for prayer and instruction, and, by an instinct of spiritual
self-preservation, looked to John Wesley for fostering care. In the introduction to the "General Rules
of the Society" he gives a brief account of the origin of the United Society. "In the latter end of the
year 1739 eight or ten persons came to me in London and desired that I should spend some time with
them in prayer, and advise them how to flee from the wrath to come; this was the rise of the United
Society." "This," he says, "was soon after the consecration of the Foundry. Twelve came the first
night, forty the next," and soon after a hundred, according to Jackson. The statement must not be
taken, however, as inconsistent with the fact that a society had been formed before this in Bristol,
and the first chapel of the Methodists built there. But the opening of the Foundry, November 11,
1738, has historical eminence; for after the separation from the Fetter Lane brethren it was the
headquarters of Methodism in London. The year is also memorable from the formation of "Bands"
in Bristol, and the issuance by the Wesleys of their "Hymns and Sacred Poems," the beginning of
its published psalmody.
Necessity was the mother of his invention, and he now appointed John Cinneck, a layman, to take
charge of the Kingswood society; pray, expound Scripture, but not to preach, in his absence. Thomas
Maxwell was assigned to some religious duties at the Foundry, and John Nelson began about this
time to hold Meetings at night, working at his trade of a stonemason by day. It marked the initiation
of his lay ministry, and it became the backbone of Methodism both in England and America; for
ordained ministers there were none but the Wesleys and Whitefield. Mention should also be made
of Ingham, who was Wesley's companion in America and who formed many societies in Yorkshire.
Howell Harris labored in Wales and John Bennet in Derbyshire. David Taylor, who was a servant
to Lord Huntingdon, attracted great assemblies of the rustic people, being recognized by Lady
Huntingdon, around her residence and elsewhere. Samuel Deacon became a distinguished preacher,
raw from the harvest-field. In February, 1742, a meeting was held at Bristol for consultation over the
debt upon the chapel, and it was agreed that every member of the society who was able should
contribute a penny a week; that the whole society should be divided into classes of about twelve, and
that one person in each class should be appointed to receive the contributions and pay over to the
steward. "This," says Wesley, "was the origin of our classes in London (for the plan was extended
to all the societies), for which I can never sufficiently praise God, the unspeakable usefulness of the
institution having ever since been more and more manifest." Thus was laid the foundation of the
financial system of Methodism and gave rise to the saying, "A penny a week and a shilling a
quarter," as a minimum poll tax upon the membership; while the devotional feature, soon added, of
each giving a weekly "experience" kept alive the personal religion of all in society. Wesley appointed
the leaders, and, as the societies increased, in order that he might have a check upon improper
persons and know by some token who belonged to the society, he issued tickets with a short
Scripture verse with the date and name of the holder. Such a ticket was a passport to any of the
classes, and was valid for three months. April 9, 1742, the first watch-night was held in London, the