Representative women of Methodism

Front matter

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Introduction

A SERIES of Lectures on Representative Women of Methodism, delivered in the autumn of 1891, in the hall of the Young Men's Christian Association of Philadelphia, for the benefit of the Endowment Fund of the Methodist Episcopal Orphanage, became the origin of this book.

Two thoughts filled the mind of the author in their preparation — the aid of a noble charity and a desire to make known the beautiful lives of those who wrought so efficiently for the building up of Methodism.

Many testimonies of their helpfulness and urgent solicitations for their publication have been received from those who heard them, and in deference to their judgment they are now printed.

If a wider knowledge of the lives portrayed shall be an inspiration to lead others to a kindred devotion to Christ and his Church the author will be thankful.

Charles Wesley Buoy.

Philadelphia, October, 1892.

Chapter I. Susannah, Mother Of The Wesleys

PAGE

Woman in the Hebrew Church 4

Woman in Christianity 5

Lineage and training 10

Influence of dissent in England 12

Her marriage 13

Samuel Wesley, his scholarship 16

Epworth parish 20

The rectory 22

Home life and education 24

Childhood of the Wesleys 27

Rare scholarship of Mrs. Wesley 29

Genius of her children 31

Religious convictions 35

Lecky on John Wesley's conversion „ 37

Her service in the rectory 38

Its wonderful success 39

Restoration of prophetic office to women 42

Her advocacy of lay preaching , 44

Deeper religious life 55

Samuel Wesley, Jr 57

His opinion of Methodism 57

John Wesley expelled from the Establishment 59

His position as an Anglican 61

Macaulay's estimate of his work 65

Cardinal Manning's estimate of his work 65

Condition of Church and society 67

Vlll CONTENTS.

PAGE

Thackeray on Wesley and Whitefield 68

Methodism primitive Christianity 70

Mrs. Wesley's doubt and struggles 74

Methodism the ultimate faith ., 77

Dollinger on Wesley 79

Mrs. Wesley's letters 80

Death, character, and fame 81

Influence of educated women 84

An ideal woman in the parsonage 85

Thomas Guard's tribute to her worth 86

Chapter II

METHODISM AT THE COURT OF ST. JAMES IN THE EIGHT- EENTH CENTURY — SELINA, COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON.

Character of the membership of the first Methodist

society 91

Royal ancestry of Lady Huntingdon 92

Influence in court society 94

Sickness and conversion 98

Union with the Methodists 99

Her conversion a sensation among the nobility 100

Bishop Warburton 101

Her entire consecration 103

Picture, of court life in Europe 105

The Church in England 109

Her homes opened to Methodist preaching 117

Her hospitality 117

Converted nobility 119

Lord Dartmouth, Earl of Buchan, Duke of Argyle. . . . T19

Countess of Chesterfield converted 120

Houses of nobility preaching places 123

The Church in the house 124

Duchess of Marlborough 128

Frederic, Prince of Wales 131

Ball in Lambeth Palace T33

CONTENTS. ix

PAGE

Persecution 135

Her field of work 139

Catholicity of Methodism 146

Founding a college 148

Evangelistic work 149

Her generosity 151

Her ministry for America, 154

Orphanage in Georgia 154

Aid to Princeton College 155

Correspondence with Washington 156

The salon of the new Reformation 159

Spiritual ministry 161

Her death i65

One of England's noblest names 167

Chapter III. The First Methodist Deaconess — Mary Bosanquet Fletcher

Home and early life 173

Expulsion on account of her religion 177

Heroism of her youth 180

Opening an orphanage 182

Nature of the first Methodist orphanage 185

Hospitality 190

Her call to preach 192

Woman a prophetess 194

Success in preaching 197

Courage 200

Inhuman persecution of early Methodists 203

Wonderful answers in prayer 211

Benevolence 217

Financial perplexity 219

Romance in marriage 221

John Fletcher 222

Rare gifts and lofty character 226

X CONTENTS.

PAGE

Francis Newman's estimate 227

An ideal marriage 229

Wesley's estimate of Fletcher 231

Holiness attractive 235

Lady Maxwell 236

Lady Fitzgerald 236

Mrs. Fletcher's definition of holiness 236

Age and death 237

Burder's estimate of Mrs. Fletcher 237

A Christly life 239

Chapter IV

METHODISM IN THE HIGHER SOCIETY OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES — KATHARINE LIVINGSTON GARRETTSON.

Barbara Heck 243

Influence of Methodism on the German mind 244

First society of Methodists in America „ 245

Family of Judge Livingston 245

Margaret Beekman 246

Conversion of Katharine Livingston 248

Position of family in the colonies. 250

Missionary zeal 252

Character of early American Methodism 253

Homes of Bishop Asbury 254

Value of converted leadership 257

General Richard Montgomery 259

Religious intolerance in New York 260

Hospitality of colonial Methodism 261

Governor Van Cortland 262

United States Senator Richard Bassett 265

Conversion and service to Methodism 266

Hany and Prudence Gough 267

Perry Hall 267

'Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church 269

CONTENTS. XI

PAGE

High culture of the leaders of Methodism 269

Apostolic character of the Christmas Conference 270

Tribute of General Conference to Harry Gough 273

Carrolls of Carrollton and Methodism 273

Bancroft on organizers of American Church 275

Judge White 276

Providence of God in the beginnings of Methodism 277

Catholicity of Methodism 279

Father Boehm on the Church 280

Marriage of Katharine Livingston to Freeborn Gar-

rettson 282

Adaptation of Methodism to democracy 284

Contemporary rise of Methodism and the republic 284

Conversion and sacrifice of Garrettson 286

Wonderful zeal of Bishop Coke 287

Dissoluteness of colonial life .. 289

Persecution of early itinerants. 291

Pentecost in the wilderness of the New World 296

Courage and devotion of itinerants 297

Jesuit missionaries 301

Debt due to pioneers of Methodism 303

Home of Katharine Livingston Garrettson 305

Conversion of Chancellor Livingston 306

Edward Livingston 307

Mrs. Edward Livingston 307

General Russell 308

Governor Tiffin 309

Drawing room of Mrs. Garrettson's father 311

Personal ministry 312

Estimate of President Olin 313

Olden time courtesy 317

Garrettson the Fletcher of the American Church 318

Wesley's desire — death defeated 319

Age and death of Mrs. Garrettson 320

Estimate of Rev. Dr. Buckley .322

Galaxy of social leaders in early Methodism 323

Xll CONTENTS.

Chapter V. Educational Work Of Methodist Women — Eliza Gar- Rett

PAGE

Expulsion of Methodist students from Oxford 337

First college of Methodism 339

Lady Maxwell's gift to Kingswood School 340

John Fletcher an ideal college president 341

Methodism an intellectual revival 342

Benevolence of Mrs. Garrett 343

Purpose of her benefaction 344

Birth and training 345

Scholarship of early Methodism 346

Burning of the first college of American Methodism .... 348

Women's College of Baltimore . . 350

Methodism an intellectual faith 351

Educational foundations laid by women 354

Hannah Ball 356

Woman's work in foreign and home missions 357

First college for women in America founded by Methodism 362

Leadership of educated womanhood in the republic .... 364

Mary Somerville and George Eliot 366

Fruit of higher training of woman 567

Training of clergy 369

Culture of pioneer preachers 372

Bishop Clarke's estimate of Mrs. Garrett 374

Holiness of character 376

Bereavement , 377

Garrett Biblical Institute 378

Steven's estimate of Mrs. Garrett. 379

Chautauqua Assembly 379

Intellectual premiership of Methodism in America 382

Benefactors of Methodism 383

Religion in college 386

Immortality of truth . 389

CONTENTS. Xlll

PAGE

American University 392

Woman its first contributor 392

Difference between the American and Catholic university 393

Dr. Lord's estimate of women 396

Methodism's ideal woman 3g3

Influence of Mrs. Garrett's life on the Church . .. 402