Susanna Wesley
This is the story of Susanna Wesley, 1669-1742 Mother of Charles and John Wesley, who were founders of the Methodist Church. Susanna and her husband, Samuel, had nineteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. Her son Charles became a well-known hymn writer and her son John became the found of Methodism. Susanna was brought up in a Puritan home as the youngest of twenty-five children. As a teenager, she became a member of the Church of England. She became the wife of a chronically debt-ridden parish rector in an English village. She said, "I have had a large experience of what the world calls adverse fortune." Nonetheless, Susanna managed to pass down to her children Christian principles that stayed with them.
This is the story of Susanna Wesley, 1669-1742 Mother of Charles and John Wesley, who were founders of the Methodist Church. Susanna and her husband, Samuel, had nineteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. Her son Charles became a well-known hymn writer and her son John became the found of Methodism.
Susanna was brought up in a Puritan home as the youngest of twenty-five children. As a teenager, she became a member of the Church of England. She became the wife of a chronically debt-ridden parish rector in an English village. She said, "I have had a large experience of what the world calls adverse fortune." Nonetheless, Susanna managed to pass down to her children Christian principles that stayed with them.
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PARTINGS. 159<br />
He had shown some of their children many kindnesses,<br />
and had seen his brother from time to time when business<br />
took him to London, but had never before been<br />
at his home. It appears that the family was by that<br />
time again at Epworth, and all that is directly known<br />
of the visit is contained in a letter from Mrs. <strong>Wesley</strong><br />
to John at Oxford.<br />
" July 12th, 1731.<br />
" My brother <strong>Wesley</strong> had designed to have surprised<br />
us, and had travelled under a feigned name from<br />
London to Gainsborough ;<br />
but there, sending his man<br />
out for guide to the Isle (of Axholme) the next day,<br />
the man told one that keeps our market his master's<br />
name, and that he was going to see his brother, which<br />
was the minister of Epworth. The man he informed<br />
met with Molly in the market about an hour before<br />
my brother got thither. She, full of the news,<br />
hastened home, and told us her uncle <strong>Wesley</strong> was<br />
coming to see us, but we could hardly believe her.<br />
'Twas odd to observe how all the town took the alarm,<br />
and were upon the gaze, as if some great prince had<br />
been about to make his entry. He rode directly to<br />
John Dawson's (the Inn) ;<br />
but we had soon notice of<br />
his arrival, and sent John Brown with an invitation to<br />
our house. He expressed some displeasure at his servant<br />
for letting us know of his coming, for he intended<br />
to have sent for Mr. <strong>Wesley</strong> to dine with him at Dawson's,<br />
and then come to visit us in the afternoon.<br />
However, he soon followed John home, where we were<br />
all ready to receive him with great satisfaction.<br />
" His behaviour among us was perfectly civil and<br />
obliging. He spake<br />
little to the children the first day,<br />
being employed (as he afterwards told them) in observing<br />
their carriage, and seeing how he liked them ;
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