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124 GEORGIA AND GEOEGIANS
Shakespeare, this hymnal escaped the search of both English and Ameri
can collectors; no biographer of John Wesley so much as dreaming of its
existence. It is also interesting as an early-printed American book,
apart from its interest as a hymnal and a portrayal of Wesley's mind
during his eventful visit to Georgia. The volume is a small octavo
volume of seventy-four pages, the title page of which reads: ' A Collec
tion of Psalms and Hymns—Charleston. Printed by Timothy Lewis,
1737.'"*t
Says Dr. James W. Lee, in narrating the circumstances under which
the great founder of Methodism left Savannah, in 1736:
"During his stay at Ebenczer, AVesley opened his heart to Spanen-
berg on a matter which was weighing heavily upon his mind; and he has
placed on record his approval of the good pastor's advice. On his return
to Savannah the affair was to assume a very serious aspect, and to bring-
to an abrupt termination his career in the settlement. The chief man at
Savannah was a certain Thomas Causton, who began his career as the
company's storekeeper, and was successful in securing the good will of
Oglethorpe. This led to rapid advancement, which, however, was unde
served; for, some years later, he was detected in a course of fraudulent
dealing and was summarily cashiered.
"There was living in his household at this'time an attractive young
lady, named Sophia Christina. Hopkey, or Hopkins, his niece, who
showed herself a devoted attendant at church services, and most recep
tive to the ministrations of the handsome young pastor. Desirous of
learning French, she found in him an excellent teacher. Wesley's Lon
don, friend, Delamotte, however, who regarded Miss Sophia as sly and
designing, and doubted the sincerity of her professions, warned John
Wesley against her. Wesley seems also to have discussed the matter of
her sincerity—or rather of her fitness to be .a clergyman's wife—with
the excellent Moravians. The advice which they gave him coincided with
Delamotte's, and the result was a distinct coolness in his manner toward
the young lady. She resented the change, and, understanding its signifi
cance, accepted the' advances of a less scrupulous suitor named Wilkin-
son, a man by no means conspicuous for piety. As her spiritual adviser,
Wesley still continued to visit Mrs. Wilkinson.
"At length, believing that he perceived in the lady's conduct distinct
marks of spiritual degeneracy, he deemed it his duty to repel her from
holy communion. This summary and injudicious step was naturally in
terpreted in .an unpleasant way. The husband and uncle of the lady
sued him in the civil court for defamation of character; and, in the
squabble which followed, the people took part against Wesley. Holding
peculiar views respecting the limited jurisdiction possessed by civil .
courts over clergymen, Wesley refused to enter into the necessary recog-
* Adelaide Wilson, in '' Historic and Picturesque Savannah.'' Consult also:
James W. Lee, in "Illustrated History of Methodism."
t Though Savannah has been called the '' cradle of Methodism,'' it was not until
1807, nearly three-quarters of a century after the Wesleys returned to England, that
this new religions denomination succeeded in obtaining a foothold in Savannah. Rev.
Hope Hull, in 1790, undertook to hold a series of meetings in a chairmaker's shop,
but, according to Doctor White, his preaching aroused mob violence, and'his success
was small—White's "Historical Collections of Georgia," under Chatham.