The victories of Wesley Castle

Front matter

Wesley Castle

Chap. KL 3 Copyright No.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Preface

“*JpHE Victories of Wesley Castle,” exactly as it now appears, was given by the author, a chapter at a time, to his Sunday evening congregation, in the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Wellsville, N. Y., in the Summer of 1900. It awakened a good degree of interest; and, it is believed, was productive of much spiritual profit to the many who heard it. It is now offered to the public in the humble faith that it will benefit those who honor it with a perusal.

In form and setting, the book is a fiction. But its substance is solid fact, from beginning to end. The hero is a composite character, adorned with some ideal excellences. No one person ever had all the experiences of Wesley Castle; but, with few exceptions, they are all the real experiences of real men. His inner spiritual conflicts and victories are a part of the life history of a man well-known to the author, for whom God has done exactly what the story says he did for the hero. Nearly all the characters are real persons, known to the author* Notably so are Carter and Chester Reynolds and the Osgoods and Sam Hooker.

As the author does not wish to be accused of exaggeration, in this first attempt at story-telling, he wishes it understood that those incidents in the narrative which seem most overdrawn are true to the very letter. If it is thought that 5 such revivals as are here described never were, the answer is, THEY WOULD BE COMMON OCCURRENCES, IF THE CHURCH WOULD LIVE UP TO THE PENTECOSTAL STANDARD.

The book goes out with the earnest prayer of the author that the Holy Spirit will use it to the conversion and sanctification of many souls.

CHARLES WESLEY WINCHESTER.

Wellsville, N. Y., September 10, 1900.