Date published: 1741-01-01
Source:
A True and Historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia in America (ID173)Author: Tailer, Patrick, et al. (ID163)
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Race described: English
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Content id: 3739
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1737-01-01 - 1737-12-31
John Weseley arrived in Savannah
[From 1741 A True and Historical Narrative, edited by Amy]
Reverend Wesley came along and trained the lazy to get food at church rather than work for it
AND Now to make our Subjection even more complete, a new kind of Tyranny was this Summer begun to be imposed upon us. Mr. John Wesley [Wesley?] who had come over and was received by us as a Clergyman of the Church of England, soon discovered that his Aim was to enslave our Minds as a necessary Preparative for enslaving our Bodies. He promoted attendance to Prayers, Meetings and Sermons so frequently and during hours necessary for Labor, especially in an infant Colony, that it produced a Spirit of Indolence and Hypocrisy amongst the most abandoned. It was much easier for such People to show a religious zeal and Adherence to Mr. Wesley's Novelties and be provided by his Procurement from the public Stores than to use that work ethic which true Religion recommends. The Reverend Gentleman Designs were obvious since he frequently declared That he never desired to see Georgia a Rich colony, But a *Religious one. (*according to his System)
Wesley was so extreme we started viewing him as a Catholic
Eventually, Wesley’s behaviors led everyone of any Consideration came to view him as a Roman Catholic.
Wesley required dissenters to denounce their prior baptisms
1st, Under a passionate, strict Adherence to the Church of England, he unmercifully damned all Dissenters of any Denomination, who were never permitted to communicate with him unless they gave up their Faith and Principles entirely to his Molding and Direction, and in Confirmation thereof declared their Belief of the Invalidity of their former Baptism, and then to receive a new one from him: This was done publicly on the Persons of Richard Turner, Carpenter, and his Son. Another Instance was that of William Gaff, who had once communicated with Wesley and always conformed to his Regulations. However, Wesley eventually found out Gaff had been baptized by a Presbyterian Dissenter and proposed a do-over. When Mr. Gaff declined, he was excluded from Communion from then on.
Wesley damned all dissenters but adored all Catholics
2nd, While all Dissenters (which there was a lot of in the Colony) were thus unmercifully damned and shut out from Religious Ordinances, contrary to that Spirit of Moderation and Tenderness which the Church of England showed towards them, Persons suspected to be Roman Catholics were received and caressed by him as his First-Rate Saints.
Wesley tried to establish methods common to Catholics but against the Church of England
3rd, A third Confirmation of this Suspicion arose from his Endeavors to establish Confession, Penance, Mortifications, Mixing Wine with Water in the Sacrament, and Suppressing in the Administration of the Sacrament the Explanation attached to the Words of communicating by the Church of England to show that they Mean a Feeding on Christ by Faith, saying no more than “The Body of Christ; The Blood of Christ;” by Appointing Deaconesses, with sundry other Innovations, which he called Apostolic Constitutions.
Wesley’s scheme looked like brainwashing for tyranny
4th, Remembering the strict Connection between Popery and Slavery, the most judicious of us thought Wesley’s fine Scheme seemed intended to debase and depress the Minds of the People, to break any Spirit of Liberty, and humble them with Fasting, Penances, Drinking of Water, and a thorough Subjection to his Spiritual Jurisdiction. Once this was accomplished, the Minds of People would be equally prepared to receive Civil or Ecclesiastical Tyranny.
Wesley pried into people’s privacy and bred distrust in families
All Jesuitical Arts were utilized to perfect Wesley’s well-concerted Scheme. Families were divided into Parties. Spies were engaged in many Houses. Wesley bribed and decoyed Servants to tell him the Secrets of the Families they belonged to. Those who had given themselves up to his Spiritual Guidance (more especially Women) were obliged to tell him their most secret Actions, Thoughts, and Dreams: He gave Charge to Juries and gave his Opinion in all Civil Causes that came before the Court. We could not imagine what would come of all this. Our complaints went nowhere, and Mr. Causton and Wesley went Hand-in-Hand.
Wesley got jilted by Causton’s niece and rejected her from communion
BUT the merciful Providence of GOD often disappoints those plans that are laid deepest in Human caution. Mr. Wesley rejected Mrs. Sophia Williamson, Niece to Mr. Causton, from the Sacrament. This young Lady’s Friends had put her under the Ghostly Care of Mr. Wesley, who repeatedly proposed Marriage to her. She always rejected those proposals, and soon contradicted Mr. Wesley altogether by marring Mr. William Williamson of Savannah. After that, Mr. Wesley used all Means to create a Misunderstanding between Mrs. Williamson and her Husband by persuading her that Mr. Williamson had no Right to regulate her Behavior regarding conversing with him or attending Meetings as she formerly did. Finally realizing he could gain Nothing upon her and that Mr. Williamson had forbidden him any Conversation with his Wife out of his Presence, he showed by resentment by rejecting her from Holy Communion.
Wesley was indicted and the Grand Jury wrote the following representation to the Trustees
Mr. Williamson felt well founded in an Action of Damages. Mr. WESLEY was no longer supported by Mr. Causton (who was highly nettled at the Affront put upon his Niece and could now rail against Spiritual Tyranny as fluently as anyone). Wesley was indicted before a GRAND JURY of 44 Free-holders. Thirteen Indictments were found against him: one concerned Mr. Williamson and his Spouse; the others concerned the Grievances we all felt by his Measures and the Exercise of his Ecclesiastical Functions. The latter were submitted to the Magistrates to present to the Trustees in hopes of being properly redressed, since we had no other Jurisdiction, either Civil or Ecclesiastical, that we could appeal to. The Grand Jury realized that a larger Number of qualified people were not likely to ever be legally met together again, so this was a good Time to represent their Grievances and Hardships to the Trustees. Which they did in the following Manner:
Cross references
No cross references.