THE WOMEN AROUND JOHN WESLEY AT HOME ... - Kristoffersen

THE WOMEN AROUND JOHN WESLEYAT HOME AND IN SOCIETYSusanna Wesley, Emilia, Susanna (Suky), Mary,Mehetabel (Hetty), Ann, Martha, Kezziah, Betty, Sophia,Grace, Molly, Sarah, Laura and Lady Selina ofHuntingdon, Sophy Hopkey and others.BYARNE-JACOB KRISTOFFERSENDR. THEOL. / LECTURER / O. P. /1

INTRODUCTIONThis presentation does not pretend to be scientificin the meaning that it has notes referring to scientificliterature, but all facts can be documented.The reason why I have written about the womenaround John Wesley are due to some request from theMinisters wives in the Methodist Church in Gothenburg.The Pastoral union in Gothenburg gathered for their SpringMeeting Friday 29/5-88, which was held in Patricia´ s andmy home in Ulricehamn, Sweden.I held a talk at the meting on Lady Selina,Countess of Huntingdon. In the conversation afterwardsthere appeared to great interest for the women around JohnWesley. The enthusiasm that the subject aroused made mesay that I should write a short story about these women thatare of interest.My promise to write about Wesley and the womenaround him is now fulfilled. During my research I foundout that I had to start with the Wesley´ s home where JohnWesley was surrounded by seven sisters as well as hismother Susanna Wesley, who was a very strongpersonality. I have written about her in other connections,so here I will only present a summary of what I havewritten about her previously.I shall also give a short bibliography over books Ihave used, and in some of the books there are goodWesley-bibliographies.”The Story of Methodism”, Abingdon Press 1949is mentioned. The authors are: Halford E. Lucccock, PaulHutchinson, Robert W. Goodloe and Harold Speakman.2

Leslie F. Church has contributed with his Fernley-HartleyLectures: The Early Methodist People. The book is editedby Epworth Press, London, 1949. Further the followingbooks have been consulted: John Wesley, The Journals,vol. I-VIII as well as John Wesley, The Letters, vol. I-VIII.Several books have been written about Wesley and hisfamily by women, such as Rebecca Lamar Harmon;“Susanna Mother of The Wesley´ s”. A bibliography isincluded in this book, which I have also consulted. I wouldalso like to mention some handbooks that I used during mystudies at Cambridge and Oxford: Varsity Handbook,Cambridge University Guide 1971/72 together with otherhandbooks with information about Cambridge and OxfordUniversities.THE TWELVE PERSONS AT EPWORTHI am giving a short biography over the personsmentioned in this work, and who belonged to the 21persons strong family including the parents.THE PARENTS AND THE FAMILY:1. Samuel Wesley, Sr. was born in Whitchurch inDecember 1662, and who died 25/4 1735 at an age of73, he is buried in Epworth Churchyard.2. Susanna Wesley, born in London 20/1 1669. She died23/ 1742 at the age of 73, and was buried in BurnhillFields, London.3. Samuel, Jr., born in London 10/2 1690 and died 6/111739 at the age of 32, and was buried in Tiverton.3

The higher Priesthood also have their seats in theHouse of Lords. It is also the Archbishops who crownkings and Queens even if the king or queen is the highestauthority of the Anglican Church and appoints Bishops andArchbishops. The Church had no women Priests in EnglandAt the time I studied at Cambridge 1973. The Church hadwomen Priests in the Common Wealth such as in HongKong at that time. In England the reigning Monarch isalways the head of the Church as at present is QueenElizabeth II.Today it is different. There are now women priestsin England. I have attended several Divine Services andwedding Ceremonies lead by women Priests.I read about the difference between the AnglicanChurch and the Methodist Church at that time, in the bookThe Story of Methodism. I quote from the book on page178:“ Methodism was a spirit; it was amovement; it was a life. Anglicanismwas an order, a rubric, a theory. TheMethodists, in the main, had littlecommerce of spirit with the Anglicans;the Anglicans had less with theMethodists.”Today it is different with an ecumenical spiritinfluencing both the Anglican Church and the MethodistChurch.7

SAMUEL WESLEY – AN UNUSUAL PRIESTLet us return to 17 th Century England. The clergyin the Congregations throughout the Country were morefond of attend parties and participating in social gatheringsthan to write sermons and deliver them in the Church.The common idea concerning the social functionof the clergy is mirrored in the outlook of Samuel Wesley,Sr., when one studies his history. When Samuel shouldleave his Parish, he wished that his son John Wesley, whowas university Lecturer or Fellow of Lincoln College,Oxford, should take over his Parish. The motive for thisrequest to appoint John Wesley was that this would hindera “fox-hunter” to be appointed to Epworth. The clergy hadthree interests at that time, which one could see pictured ona shield. The three symbols on the shield were; a fox head,a clay pipe for tobacco smoking as well as a beer jar.It belonged to the spare time activities of the upperclass to converse with the beer can in one hand, smoking aclay pipe as well as to go fox hunting.To be honest one should say that there wereexceptions from the common ideas concerning the clergy.Samuel Wesley was one of the Priests who did not fit intothe picture described. In his Sermons he encouraged hisCongregation to live a more Christian life. In his honestdescription of the life of his members of the Congregationhe obtained both friends and foes. It was also Samuel whoadvised the members of the Holy Club in Oxford to taketime for prayer and fast.8

The conditions at the Universities were no betterthat in the Congregations. This one understand when onehear that it was necessary with a “Holy Club” at theUniversity where one could promote Bible studies, prayerand Christian social work. The students in the Holy Clubstudied instead of doing sports and competing in beerdrinking.Further one should mention that Samuel Wesleywas an unusual Priest who had interest in foreign mission.This interest for foreign mission flowered out in Charlesand John who travelled as voluntarily missionaries to thecolony Georgia in America. It was not only mission amongthe Indians in America that interested Wesley´ s but alsothe people of the South Pacific.THE WESLEY WOMEN AND WOMEN NOWIf we leave the clergy, and return to the women inthe Wesley family, the knowledge about their position insociety will be revealed for us.The position of women in society at that time wasnot equal to that of men. Women could not get a highereducation because the universities were not open to them.There were certainly some private Schools that were openfor women, but it was only the rich ones who could pay foreducation who were privileged to these places.I can mention that it was first in 1972-73 that thefirst women moved in to the male dominated Colleges inCambridge. At Trinity College they received 200 womenamong the 2500 student body at that time. At ChurchillCollege they opened their doors for 30 women among their9

550 members from October 1972. There was a lot of talkabout this when I was at Cambridge University. I was amember of Fitzwilliam College with 540 members and nowomen at that time, as well as to Wesley House which hadboth men and women students.THEN AND NOWI would like to refer to a couple of happenings atCambridge from the time I studied at the TheologicalColleges at the University with M.A. Degree privilegeduring 1972-73. It was illegal to walk on the grass at theUniversity unless you had a M.A.-degree. In one of theCollege gardens some women students had put up a tent inthe middle of the garden in protest against the fact that theCollege had not opened its gates for women. The wardensremoved the tent quickly and ordered the women to leavethe garden.At every College there was a gathering everymonth for professors, dons and students called “HighTable”.It was at such a dinner at Trinity College, thatsome women students stormed into the dining Hall todemonstrate. There were some commotion, and the guestsat the table turned round and asked what was going on.“Nothing”, was the answer and the dinner party continuedin the regular manner.10

WOMEN´ S COLLEGESI would like to mention as a matter of form thatCambridge University has its own women´ s Colleges. Imention Girton College which was founded 1869, and has495 women students. Here they did not permit any malestudents 1972, however, the first male Dons were allowed.Newnham College was founded 1871 and had 377women students, when I visited Cambridge Univeersity.The Dean at Newnham, Miss Cohen, said in a discussionthat they would not permit male students at the College,because that would make the women students lose theirindependence as men should take over all activities of atechnical nature.Homerton College is a Teachers University forwomen. The School was founded in London 1850, butmoved to Cambridge 1894, and it has 630 students.Wesley House has both men and womenTheological students. This is also the case at WestminsterCollege that was founded in London 1844. The Collegemoved to Cambridge 1899. Westminster College isPresbyterian while Wesley House is Methodist. I shouldmention that several Colleges have opened their doors for asmall number of women students at Cambridge. This wasthe case with Clare College who among their 330 studentsreceived 30 women from October 1972. This College wasfounded 1326. Kings College from 1441 with 450 studentsallowed 30 women into its student body from October1972. New Hall opened 1954 as the third Institution forwomen with 250 students, but the main part of Colleges at11

Cambridge University was not part of 1972´ s open doorsfor women students.WOMEN´ S COLLEGE IN THE PARSONAGEWe will return to the girls in the parsonage inEpworth where the Priests home was a Women Collegewith seven females and two three male students and withSusanna Wesley as Principal, and her husband the Vicar astutor in classical literature and language. The girls weretaught to read and write as well as mathematics. There werealso practical subjects in the big household. They had alsogymnastics and games, they were taught ballet as well.Both boys and girls were well educated and trained inintellectual disciplines, so that they could earn their ownliving as governesses and teachers at girls boardingSchools. One of the daughters opened a School that wassuccessful.What would become of these girls who had got aneducation, an independent way of thinking and a politicaland economical training which was more fitting for amore emancipated age than their own. The only future thata woman had at that time was to be married to a rich manand through this act get a secure social position for herselfand her children. For the Wesley-girls with their educationit was a meagre market in the Epworth district where therewere a lot of uneducated and ill-mannered men who werelooking for women objects.12

BACKGROUNDWith the background just referred to we can not besurprised that things turned out as they did for the Wesleygirlsin the environment where they grew up, and with thesocial pressure round about them. Further one notice thatthe girls carried with them from home a rootedconservative Tory political view and a High ChurchPhilosophy. We can think what a confrontation and stressthese views called forth in the girls when meeting with theuneducated men in the environment. In addition to theirPhilosophy the girls were classically educated. These factsmust have created perplexity in several situations that theymet in confrontation with the uneducated and ill-manneredpeople round about.Another problem, which they met with, was themoral of that time which had no place for compassion andlove. These were two components that John Wesleybrought into the spiritual life with his religion of thewarmed heart. Love and compassion was the prerequisitefor holiness and Christian Perfection.One example was Hetty who was governess totwo Children at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Grantham inKelstein near Louth. Hetty was 27 years old and was inlove with a lawyer, Will Atkins. Her parents prohibitedcontact with this man. Will Atkins had promised marriage,and they ran away to marry. The night before the marriageshe gave in to his plea to sleep with her. Next morningwhen the wedding should take place, Will Atkins left her.This one night resulted in pregnancy and a child. Thedeserted woman had to return home. She now found that13

she, who had been her father´ s favourite, was now thrownout and no longer a member of the family.Samuel Wesley gave Hetty an order to leave theParsonage, but with the help of Susanna´ s pleading shewas allowed to stay. What surprises us today are that theChristian command of love had to stay back for pride andfear for what people should say. Here is a woman whorepented her doings and who needed help and protection.No one took her side except Mary Wesley. She washandicapped and stood up for her sister. Mary´ s action canbe due to the fact that she herself had met a lot ofinhumanity, so she knew that her sister needed human loveand warmth. Hardness and inhuman behaviour belonged tolife outside the Church, but here the heart of stone showedits face also in the environment of the Church.Due to the patriarchal pattern in the home, it wasonly Mary who had the courage to stand up against theruler of the house. There are several factors that suggestthat if Hetty had met understanding at home in her difficultsituation, her life and future would have looked brighterthan the darkness that now spread over her future.SAMUEL WESLEY, SR..(17/12 1662 – 25/4 1735)We have heard so much about Samuel Wesley thatwe have forgotten that he was the Vicar of Epworth. Hewas a M.A. from Oxford University. He came from twogenerations of non-conformists preachers or Free Church14

Ministers. Samuel, as well as Susanna, broke off the FreeChurch tradition and went over to the old Anglican Church.Samuel Wesley, M.A., was born 17 th December1662, son to the rev John Westley, Winterbourne,Whitchurch. He got his first higher education at NewingtonGreen. Here he was trained for the non-conformistministry. It was meant that he should continue as the thirdgeneration of Free Church Ministers, but this did nothappen.OXFORD STUDENTWhen he changed his plans and left the FreeChurch, he entered Exeter College in Oxford as a “pauperscholaris” in August 1683. He graduated with his B.A.degree 1688 and was ordained Priest the summer of 1688.Samuel Wesley was no ordinary man, but had astrong personality with his own will.Exeter College was founded 1314 by Walter deStapledon, Bishop of Exeter. When you walk down TurlStreet and have Balliol College behind you, you haveExeter College to the left and Jesus College to the right. Onthe left hand side just after Exeter comes Lincoln Collegeseparated from Exeter by a small crossroad. When I studiedMethodist Theology at Lincoln College arranged byMethodist Institute, I had my study room at Exeter Collegeand could see over the road to Lincoln. It was at LincolnCollege, which was the neighbouring College to Exeter,that Samuel Wesley´ s son John was appointed to Fellow ofLincoln College. Lincoln College is younger than ExeterCollege. Lincoln College was founded 1427 by Richard15

Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln. John Wesley got his educationat still a younger College, Christ Church College, that wasfounded 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey, who wanted that hisCollege should be the biggest and finest in Europe. This isalso the only College in Oxford with its own Cathedral.Samuel Wesley showed great courage when hestarted out as a service student, pauper scholaris, in one ofthe Oxford Colleges. This position meant that he had toserve at the tables, and serve his fellow students so that hecould finance his studies at Oxford. He showed himself as aman of courage both at Oxford and in the Congregationsafter completed studies.FROM SOUTH ORMSBY TO EPWORTHSamuel Wesley left his service at South Ormsbyeven if a nobleman had helped to get the position at SouthOrmsby, and he accepted the living as a vicar at Epworth.He was not in awe of the persons who stood above him inpower and authority, and it was the same the same withpeople around him. He told the Congregation in Epworththat they were godless, uneducated and had no knowledge.Some historians are of the opinion that this was the reasonwhy the members of the Congregation set fire to theparsonage at Epworth. Other researchers argue that thereason for the fire was that Samuel Wesley had forgotten toblow out a burning candle. Whatever the reason for the firewas it shows that Samuel Wesley was a man withprinciples and great will power as he could tell theCongregation off.16

MEMBER OF A YOUTH MOVEMENTSamuel Wesley was both a pious and a visionaryman. He was in his youth a member of a Church movementthat gave him visions further than the narrowCongregational fellowship. This view developed so that hebecome spokesman for a broad and intensive program forforeign mission. This missionary interest was in function100 years before the great missionary revival broke out.This interest for foreign mission was transferred to his sons.One can say that Samuel Wesley and his sons prepared themission revival in the heart of men through education andstudies, so that they were ready when time was ripe for themission work. We can say that here lies the seed to JohnWesley´ s motto “ The World is my Parish”.John Wesley´ s motto was also an expression forthe fact that he as a Minister could perform his Office allover the World.Charles and John Wesley were inspired by theirfather Samuel to take an interest in foreign mission. Thiswas like Hillel who had intermediated the mission interestto Saul of Tarsus through the learned Gamaliel before St.Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus. At that meeting adominant change took place through the fact that St. Paulchanged his goal from drawing men in to the law, so nowhe drew them in to Christ after the experience on the roadto Damascus.17

LITERARY ACTIVITYSamuel Wesley had both literary and politicalinterests. This is confirmed by the fact that he travelled toLondon to met social and literary leaders of that time.Samuel could himself tell stories, and it was easy for him togather friends around himself. When he had money, he wasnot so careful how he used them. His sense of economywas certainly one of the reasons why it was said that it wasso poor at Epworth. We have heard that the girlscomplained that they could not get the necessary clothesthat could open the way for them into the higher and richerfamilies. Samuel Wesley got a salary of £150 per annumfrom the Congregation. It is generally believed that it wasnot a bad salary as they in addition to Samuel´ s salary hadanimals and a garden that gave food for the big family.When we compare Samuel´ s salary with John Wesley´ sliving standard, then Samuel` s salary was £120 more thanwhat John ever used per annum.We can say that Samuel Wesley was not a goodeconomist according to what we can read in his letters tohis sons. The letters often contained information about hisfinancial problems.THE PATRIARCHAL SYSTEMSamuel Wesley was the “ruler of the house”according to the patriarchal system of that time. Susannaspoke about him as “My Master”. The Children wroteaddressing him “ Honoured Sir”.18

Samuel interfered in the girl´ s love affairs, and the wholetime his question was concerned about their best future.Samuel Wesley had a deep inner religiousconviction that took part in forming the characters of hissons. It was Susanna Wesley who gave the children theirformal education, but it must have been the universityeducated Master that stood behind and gave Susanna thesupport she needed as an educator. Samuel was responsiblefor the classical education including languages for theirchildren. The classical education including languages it wasSamuel that was responsible. John Wesley must havereceived his empiric view from his father who said to him:”The inner witness, my son- the inner witness- this is theproof, the strongest proof for Christianity”.To his youngest son, Charles, Samuel whisperedfrom his sickbed: “Charles, hold out, the Christian faithwill certainly be revived in these kingdoms. You will seethis, even if I will not experience it!”These words that came from the depth of his soul,appears to be prophetical words. Both John and his brotherCharles experienced the revival of Christianity both in theBritish kingdoms as well as in other parts of the world.Samuel advised John with his chairmanship at“The Holy Club” in Oxford and he encouraged themembers to take time for prayer and fasting.Samuel Wesley was a poet. He wrote a big eposabout Job. His poetic ability was hereditary as CharlesWesley, Samuel Wesley, Junior, John Wesley and theWesley girls, especially Hetty, had the poetic ability.19

The three Wesley brothers were all ordainedPriests in the Anglican Church. They could differ in severalquestions, but they had love in all.THE OLDEST SON WASLECTURER AT WESTMINSTERSusanna and Samuel Wesley had a son, Samueljunior, who was born in London 10 th of February 1690. Hewas thirteen years older than John and 16 years older thanCharles. Samuel junior died the year after Charles and Johnhad had their evangelical experience that resulted in thewarmed hearts religion.It was the 6 th of November 1739 that Samueljunior died and was buried at Tiverton at an age of 49years. Samuel junior was Priest in the Church of England.He should also share the responsibility for the care of hismother who had become a widow. This responsibility hehad together with his two brothers. The last three years,however, John and Charles had this responsibility.Samuel junior was not in agreement with his twobrothers concerning the evangelical revival and theconversion. Occasionally he lost his patience with hisbrothers as well as his mother who encouraged Charles andJohn in their work with the revival. Samuel junior did notmanage to break the unity of the family.Samuel junior became teacher at the famousPublic school, Westminster School in London. His youngerbrother Charles attended Westminster School. At theSchool Charles was elected Chairman of the student Body20

during the time he prepared for his studies at OxfordUniversity.John attended Charterhouse School. This was alsoa famous Public School. Johns elder brother, Samueljunior, reported to his father, the vicar of Epworth, SamuelWesley senior, that John was mature enough for studies atOxford University. John entered Christ Church College,Oxford, due to his academic merits in the preparatorySchool for the university.The Wesley-girls received their education atSusanna Wesley´ s College in their home. This was due tothe fact that the universities were not open for women atthat time. The Wesley-girls married one after the other witha number of the most worthless men one could fin on theBritish Islands. The family held together even under thissituation. Samuel junior died at the time when his twobrothers started their famous career, as it has been pointedout above.THE WOMEN AROUND JOHN WESLEY AT HOMEJohn Wesley had seven sisters with whom he grewup together with in their home. The eighth woman was hismother Susanna Wesley. She meant a lot as a adviser bothfor John and his brother and sisters.We shall first give a picture of his mother andafter that present his sisters.21

SUSANNA WESLEY THE MOTHER OF METHODISM(1669 – 1742)A MOTHER IN ISRAELSusanna Wesley was born 20 th of January 1669 inLondon, England. She is not only mother to the threebrothers; Samuel, John and Charles and her sevendaughters who all grew up to an adult age while ninechildren died in infancy, but she is also “The Mother ofMethodism”. This means a family over 40.000.000Methodists scattered round the World in 95 Countries.Who was this woman, who has taken the place asa “ Mother in Israel” for the Methodists throughout theWorld, and who has her monument outside Wesley Chapel,City Road, London?She was daughter to Dr. Samuel Annesley, vicarin the famous St. Giles Church in Criplegate. In his twomarriages he had twenty-five Children, and Susanna wasthe 25 th Child.THE FREE CHURCH TRADITIONSusanna´ s father, Dr. Samuel Annesley, left theChurch of England on the Day of St. Bartholomew 1662together with two thousand other Priests. This was a protestagainst the “Act of Uniformity”, which was against hisChristian conviction. Doctor Annesley became the leaderfor the dissenting Priests in London, and he has received anhonorary name; “St. Paul of Non-Conformists”. He was22

elated to “The Earl of Anglesay”, and had an enormousknowledge, great talents as well as a great leader. He had avery good contact with Susanna, but in spite of all theinfluence from her father, she decided to make herself freefrom the inherited Free Church membership to be amember of the Anglican Church. This was a veryindependent decision of a girl of thirteen years of age. Thisbecomes clear when one realises that she could, at her age,oppose her authoritative father, who in her saw his darlingchild. Susanna showed an intellectual conviction when shechose her own Church and walked her own way. A womanwith these abilities should never come to live in the shadowof a man. This is one of the reasons that one in the EnglishSpeaking World has seen in her a pioneer woman for “Therights of Women”. This conclusion one has deducted fromher love of freedom in her life of thought and herindependent life in her own Parish. If she had lived today, itis not sure that she would have engaged herself in thepublic life. It is possible that she would have been contentwith spreading her message, and to live her life throughthose she loved, rather than winning fame and influence bybeing known herself. She had something of the “WomanlyMysticism” in herself, which modern women cannot acceptbut must protest against.SUSANNA AS PEDAGOGUEIt has furthermore been written about Susanna asmother and the special significance she had for JohnWesley through his education and being his advisor. One23

can partly thank Susanna that laymen and lay preachersreceived such a great place in Methodism.The method of education and Child pedagogic hasbeen a subject for analysis. She even taught her daughter toread before she taught them to sew.In the day of Wesley education was mainly in thehands of tutors or instructors. To appoint a tutor wasexpensive especially if one had nineteen Children whoshould be taught. Samuel junior was the only one whoreceived such an education, but he had to leave Mr JohnHolland´ s private School because this teacher was adrunkard and mismanaged his teaching.The Children in the parsonage in Epworthreceived their education at home in Susanna´ s School.Here they learned a special routine of life.Susanna came from a famous parsonage. Herfather was rector of St. Giles, Cripplegate. In this Churchgraveyard Martin Frobisher, George Foxe and John Miltonwere buried. In the same Church Oliver Cromwell wasmarried. Susanna had good knowledge from her home andshe had learned strong leadership from her father.Susanna Wesley took over herself the education ofher Children with the help of her husband who taughtclassical languages. He was recognized as one of his timesbest classics. Samuel Wesley, however, did not have thepatience with the Children as Susanna had, so it was shewho had the responsibility for the education while herhusband functioned as a part-time teacher.Susanna was so successful with her teaching thather three sons were sent to two famous Public Schoolswhere they prepared for the university. Samuel, named24

after his father, and Charles came to Westminster Schoolwhere Samuel later on became a lecturer. John Wesleycame to Charterhouse School.Susanna Wesley was a born teacher according tothe unanimous witness that the historian gives her. She hada systematic method in her teaching, and her plannedprogram went as a timetable on the railroad. This was thecase concerning both the teaching of the children and theirpiety program.THE GIRLS ARE EQUAL WITH THE BOYS INSUSANNA´ S COLLEGE IN EPWORTHThe girls in the Wesley family were taught theSchool subjects at home in Susanna´ s School.Latin and Greek languages were taught in Susanna´ sSchool by Samuel Wesley. Hetty, one of the mostintelligent girls, read Greek at the age of eight, and later onshe participated as a writer in “The Gentleman´ sMagazine”.Martha became later on one of Dr. SamuelJohnson´ s favourite, and she was among the literaryfigures surrounding the famous author in his home.Emilia taught as a teacher at a Boarding School inLincoln.The children learned certain rules of life, so thatthey themselves could manage the practical problems oflife. This teaching was adapted to the age and stage ofmaturity of each Child. Here we find the two principles thatmodern education calls the principles of self- regulation in25

education and integration in education as well as thateducation must be individualised.The children were early taught obedience towardstheir parents as well as respect, and in these principlesincluded training to endure criticism.One can furthermore say that if Susanna´ spedagogical methods shall be measured by its results, thenone can say that the methods of Susanna Wesley gaveresults. Her children developed into members of one of themost known families in the English history. The childrenwere known for their beautiful look, their intellect and theirconsummated characters.Susanna did not send her Children away to danceSchools, however, a dance teacher came home to theparsonage in Epworth to teach the Children. Susannaherself played cards and, and she played other games withher children in the home.SUSANNA WESLEY AS A THEOLOGIANThe Theological views of Susanna has beenanalysed, and one has found out that she was the cause ofthe religious renewal groups in the 18 th Century. Sheherself gathered 200 persons to religious meetings in theparsonage in Epworth on Sunday afternoons. Religion wasfor her not only something that belonged to the Church andthe closet, but every word and action had a moral content.For her, Religion was a way of life, and therefore onecannot separate the Theology from her personality. She wasa Trinitarian and as being one she prayed to God- theFather, God – the Son and God- Holy Spirit.26

The 3 rd of September 1739 during a CommunionService her understanding of the certainty of forgivenesswas enlarged with a new and fresh dimension. The newunderstanding of forgiveness, she experienced 1739, haslately been stressed by the Methodists throughout theWorld. This dimension appear when she pray her ownprayer:“Give me grace, O Lord,I can become entirelyChristian”.One can say that the foundation stone to herTheology is to be found here in a practical everyday piety.In her library the Bible had a central place, and ithad its place among the books in her teaching. It is possiblethat the base for John Wesley´ s wish to be a man of onebook, “Homo unius libri”, was laid here.Susanna held Divine Services in her kitchen.Families who seldom went to Church now took regularlypart in her religious meetings.AN ACTIVE LIFE IS CLOSEDSusanna Wesley died 23 rd July 1742 at the age of73 years. She had said to her Children that as soon as shedied they should sing a hymn to the Lord God. Her lastrequests, was performed conscientiously by her children,who were her pupils.Susanna was buried in the nonconformistgraveyard Bunhill Fields opposite City Road on the areathat later on should be Wesley Chapel. John Wesley usedthe ritual of the English Church at the burial Service, and27

he delivered a speech at the graveside in front of a greatgathering of people who had come to honour her with theirpresence.Not far away from the grave of Susanna, John Bunyan andIsaac Watts are buried as well as Susanna´ s sister ElizabethDunton.An active and significant human life had reachedits endpoint here on earth, and waiting for a new life at theresurrection on the last day when Christ shall raise all deadand lead all who believe in him to eternal life.I found a small road, Bishopsgate, with a housecalled Spital Yard where Samuel Annesley, DD, had lived.Susanna was born here and her firstborn baby, SamuelWesley junior was also born here.Samuel Annesley, DD, was first Chaplain in theNavy and later on lecturer in Kent and London, and afterthat he became Priest at St. Giles, Crippelgate.THE WESLEY GIRLSEMILIA (1692-1771)Emilia was born in South Ormsby 1692. She wasfour fem years old when she came with her parents toEpworth.Emilia wrote letters to her older brother Samuel.In the letters she mention “our lover”. With this expressionshe mean the suitor who came to the Parsonage. Theatmosphere in Epworth Parish was completely unsuitablefor the educated daughters of the vicar. This is whatRebecca Lamar Hermon wrote in her book “Susanna28

Mother of the Wesley´ s”. On the other hand the girls hadnot suitable dresses, so that they could appear of the finecircles in society. Samuel Wesley´ s salary did not run tosuch an extravagance. It was also expensive to travel to themore cultural circles to take part in the activities of society.SHE WAS CRITICAL AGAINSTHER FATHER, BUT WAS A GREATHELP FOR THE FAMILYEmilia was the most critical of all the children inthe family towards her father. She noted all his faults, andwrote against him in letters to her brothers. She criticizeshis economic irresponsibility. She meant that this was thereason for the family being in an embarrassing situation.She was also a daughter who fulfilled her duties inconnection with “The Divine rights of the Fathers” thatbelonged to the system at that time.Emilia came home together with John and Charlesto take care of their father during his last illness.Emilia was both beautiful and smart. She wassensible like her mother, and she was poeticly talented likeher father. She was classically educated, so that her fathercould be proud of his daughter and his own teaching of her.John Wesley said about his sister that she was the bestMilton expert he had heard. This was a fine judgementgiven by a university teacher.Emilia was a good support for the family. Shetook care of her mother and baby Kezzy after the fire in theparsonage in Epworth. It was after this fire that it was saidof John Wesley that he was a “Brand from the Burning”.29

Emilia was helpful and took responsibility for hersisters and brothers. One example shows this fact. She tookleave of absence from her teaching position as a governessto take care of Susanna Ellison, her sister, during herdifficult illness. On several occasions she managed thehousehold in the parsonage when her mother was ill, andshe managed the task in spite of the small resources.IN LOVE WITH LEYBOURNEEmilia visited her uncle Matthew Wesley inLondon. When she was here she met Mr. Leybourne, whowas a friend of John Wesley. These two men had beenfellow students at Oxford. Emilia fell in love withLeybourne. The romance lasted for three years. Emilia´ sromance with Leybourne was broken up. It was her elderbrother Samuel Wesley, junior, who ordered the break.Samuel Wesley, junior, was born in London 1690. He died1739 in Tiverton in an age of 49 year. He was, as earliermentioned, lecturer at Westminster School, Westminster,London.Emilia was not angry with her brother. Shediscovered later on that Leybourne was not in love withher. She was further convinced that he would never havebeen able to make her happy. Her wounded feelings lastedfor a long time.GOVERNESS IN LINCOLNEmilia was soon conscious that she had to takecare of herself. She was governess in Lincoln on two30

occasions. The second time she was the one that tookresponsibility for “Mrs. Taylor´ s boarding School”. It washard work in the School and low salary. Her conditionsimproved when she started her own School inGainsborough. She was successful there. It was JohnWesley who helped her to start the School.From the diaries of John Wesley we find that hewrote letters to Emilia from Oxford. He did the same thingon the boat “Simonds” on the way to Georgia. He rode onhis horse to Gainsborough in Lincoln through rain andfloods where he visited his sister Emilia. When Johntravelled to Germany to visit Count Zinzendorf, Emilia toldhim that he ought to take care of the family instead. Johncared both for the Church and his big family. He caredeconomically both for his sisters and his mother. Emiliawas eleven years older than John, and sometimes John hadto write to correct her unjust complaints and naughtiness.He had also to prove her ungratefulness and to point out thefact that she took more care of herself than of him.John Wesley wrote letters to Patty and Emilia. Inthe letters he encourage them to do good. All this is to befound in the four first volumes of his Journals and letters.IN LOVE WITH A MEDICAL DOCTOREmilia, as John Wesley calls her in his letters, wasnow in the beginning of the forties. She now entered into anew love affair with a medical man. It seemed to go well atthe beginning of the relation. She wrote herself about hernew friend that he was “ a faithful friend, a uniquecompanion and a keen lover”. This relation was broken up31

partly by John Wesley because he did not like the fact thatEmilia´ s new friend was a Quaker. This surprises me, asSamuel Wesley, Sr., and Emilia´ s father had certainQuaker ideas. Some of the last words that he said to his sonJohn, who sat at his fathers death bed, was: “The innerlight, the inner light, my son!”The broken relationship was not only due to JohnWesley, but Emilia could not reconcile herself with the factthat her lover was strongly jealous as well as he had astrong sympathy for the Whig-party. Emilia, as allmembers of the Wesley family was Tory as well as trainedin the High Church environment. She continued herteaching in Gainsborough.MARRIES THE CHEMIST HARPERWhen Emilia was 44 year old, she married achemist. He had no authorization for his trade. He workedin Epworth, and was an old friend of the Wesley family.The marriage took place just before John travelled as amissionary to Georgia in America. John Wesley himselfperformed the wedding.There were differences of opinions also in thismarriage. Mr. Harper was a fanatic Whig while Emilia wasa convinced Tory. Political difference does not create apeaceful atmosphere in the environment of the home.Emily bore a child in her marriage with Harper.The child was baptized with the name Tetty. One is notsure how long the child lived.32

The marriage to Mr. Harper did not last long. Hecould not handle money. Unfortunately he managed to takehand of most of her savings, and after some years he ranaway with her money. She herself was sitting left with asick child to care for and later to bury.Five years after her father´ s death, he died 25 thApril 1735, she moved to London. Here she lived in thehome of her brother, John Wesley, where he cared forEmilia for several years.Emilia died 1771 at an age of 79 years.SUSANNA (1695-1764)Susanna was also born in South Ormsby. She wasaround two years old when she arrived with her parents tothe Parsonage in Epworth.John Wesley calls her Sulky in his letters. Thiswas a practical thing, because he would not confuse hissister Susanna with his mother Susanna.Sulky was thought to be a beautiful girl. She had agood brain and she received a good education in hermothers and fathers School at the rectory in EpworthAfter the fire in the Parsonage in Epworth shespent half her time with her uncle Matthew and half thetime with her grandfather Dr. Samuel Annesley. Dr.Annesley had promised her that she should receive goodsupport from him.33

SULKY MARRIES RICHARD ELLISONUnfortunately maintenance was not paid out whileshe was at Matthew Wesley´ s. Sulky married unexpectedlyRichard Ellison, a well to be pavement farmer. Susannacalled Sulky took this step without consulting her parents.Later on she should repent her doings.Richard, who came from a very good family, wasSulky´ s complete opposite. He was ill - mannered, vulgar,immoral, and a real dictator. His behaviour did not fit inwith the education that Sulky had received at her mother´ sSchool in the Parsonage in Epworth. Richards way oftreating his wife was a shame.The behaviour, that Richard showed his Sulky,was a constant source at anguish and humiliation for hisparents in law; Susanna and Samuel Wesley. Samuel calledhis son in law, Dick Ellison, “Our families sore point ”.Susanna Wesley was not gracious in her judgement overher son in law. She said that Dick was only a little inferiorin evil to the fallen angels.SUSANNA OR SULKY HAD GOT ENOUGHSusanna and Richard Ellison had four Childrenwho survived. In this marriage there was also a fire thatcould have obliterated the whole family. The members ofthe family were placed out among the family members.After the fire Susanna did not stay in her marriage.She went into hiding with her Children in London. Richardtried to get her to return to Lincolnshire. He enticed herback to his former living address through putting his own34

name in the deaths column in a London paper. She came togive him her last far well, but she found him alive and ingood health. Susanna returned to London as nothing couldget her to live together with the man who had behaved sobadly towards her, and degraded her.JOHN WESLEY GAVE SUSANNAOR SULKY MAINTENANCEJohn Wesley had to take care of Sulky. He gaveSusanna the help she needed. John was the greatBenefactor in the Wesley-family, and he helped some ofthe Ellison´ s family down to the third generation.John Wesley also wrote letters to Sulky, the namehe used for Susanna. As mentioned before John Wesley didnot wish that Sulky should be mistaken for their motherSusanna. In John Wesley´ s LETTERS, volume I, I findthat he has written two letters to Sulky in November 1724.In the time of John Wesley letter writing was the foremostmeans of communication. The letters of John Wesley havebeen gathered in 8 thick volumes. Some letters are certainlymissing.Richard Ellison destroyed his economy as well ashis property. He travelled to London, and among allpersons, he appealed to John Wesley, who contacted abanker, so that Richard got help from the proceeds of acharity fond. Even if Richard stayed in London, he nevercame in contact with his wife or with his children.Charles Wesley officiated at Richard Ellison´ sfuneral. He reported that Richard died in peace. To his wifeSarah Charles wrote that sister McDonald, a woman35

Richard had liked very much, had been at Richard´ s deathbed. She had prayed together with him in his last hour.Richard had said to her that he was not afraid to die,because he believed that God had forgiven him in Christ.Susanna Wesley Ellison died in December 1764 atan age of 69 years.MARY (1696-1734)Mary Wesley was often called Molly. She too wasborn in South Ormsby. She was only a baby when herparents, Susanna and Samuel Wesley, moved to Epworth.DISABLED PERSONMary had a bodily defect that often attractedattention to passers-by who made shameless comments.Rebecca Lamar Harmon, the Bishops wife, says in herbook “Susanna Mother of the Wesley´ s” that Mary did nottake any injury from this in her beautiful and almostuplifted saintly character.Molly, as Mary was called, had a pretty face. Herkind and saintly character made her a friend and a favouriteamong all that came in contact with her.She was the Child who had to stay at homebecause of her handicap. She took the dreary routines athome with equanimity, and she showed delight instead ofcomplaining and spreading bad temper. Charles Wesley,said jokingly, that Molly was “the patient grumbling one”of the family.36

MOLLY WAS HETTY´ S FRIENDMolly or Mary was a very good friend of hersister, who also had two names, Mehetabel, or as she waspopularly called Hetty, at home. Molly was the only one inthe family who took side for Hetty, when she needed itmost. Molly protested when they should force Hetty toenter a marriage that would prove to be a tragedy for her.MARY WAS HAPPY IN HER MARRIAGEOne was of the opinion that Mary would notexperience any romance in her life. She was handicapped,and marriage was not for such persons, people said. Itshowed, however, that she and Ann were the two girls inthe Wesley family, who managed the marriage life best.When Mary was 38 years old, she found thehappiness of marriage. The marriage was together withJohn Whitelamb, who was apprehended as a clumsyperson. He, however, showed Mary affectionate love.Mary´ s husband, John Whitelamb, was of aninsignificant birth. This we learn from John Wesley´ sJournals volumes three and eight. He had been one of JohnWesley´ s students at Oxford University. Because of hisuniversity education he became a Priest in the AnglicanChurch.John Wesley visited Mary and John Whitelamb inthe Parsonage in Wroot Congregation. Samuel Wesley, Sr.,had been Vicar during some years before he came toEpworth.37

The Vicar John Whitelamb opened his Church forJohn Wesley. Here he preached over the subject: “Pray, andyou shall be given”.Unfortunately Mary´ s and John´ s happinesslasted only a short time. They had only one year marriedlife in the Parsonage and with the work in the Congregationin Wroot. During that year it seems that Mary WesleyWhitelamb experienced the happiness that we all think thatshe had served.Mary died and was buried in Wroot Parish.MEHETABEL OR HETTY (1697-1750)Mehetabel was the fourth girl in the Wesleyfamily. She is known under the pet name Hetty. She wasthe first Child Susanna Wesley gave birth to in EpworthParsonage since they moved from the parsonage in SouthOrmsby where Mary had seen the light of day the yearbefore.Hetty stand above the other six Wesley girls bothin beauty, intelligence and elegance of movement. RebeccaLamor Harmon says in her book that Hetty was richlyendowed with great talent and a fine appearance as shecould behave in different circumstances. She tells us furtherthat Hetty was beautiful both in her form of face and body.In addition to this she had a sharp mind and an alerttemperament. She had a good temper since her childhood,she was happy and had a humoristic mind that made herattract both young and old.Sometimes her humour ran away with her, so thather ingenious and geniality was not always controlled by38

her reasonable consciousness. This made her mother andfather often filled with anguish and worry that she shouldnot follow the Epworth rules for good behaviour.Hetty was the one who had the best literary talentof the Wesley girls. One expected that she should producesomething big both in poesy and literature. Life, however,became her authorship.BORN IN THE WRONG CENTURYWith her basic natural talent one should think thatshe should do well, and that the world should lie open forher, but she lived in the wrong Century. Today, she wouldas a woman, have been able to express herself freely, shewould have had space for her individuality. She grew up ina society that was dominated by men, and in anenvironment that was unnatural for her.Hetty was a darling Child for the vicar SamuelWesley who soon discovered the mental power of hisdaughter. He gave her the best education. He was proudover his Child, who could read the Greek New Testamentat the age of eight. Hetty, on her side, was glad that shecould function as an assistant for her father. During thework in the Office of the vicar, lively intellectualdiscussions developed between father and daughter.TO BE BEAUTIFULIt is not always easy to be beautiful. This Hettyexperienced. She had many admirers. Some liked her for39

her beauty, others for her witticism rather than her deeperqualities. She herself discovered that some of the men whoproposed to her were unthinkable as life companions whileher parents prohibited her to keep company with others. Itwas not easy to be Hetty Wesley from Epworth who livedin a time and atmosphere that she herself had not created,but that one expected that she should accept and adapt to.She has expressed her extremely unhappy situation in asmall poem to her mother in the hope that she shouldinfluence her husband to his daughter´ s advantage:“Pray speak a word in time of need,And with my sour-looked fatherPlead For your distressed daughter.”Hetty had inherited the poetic vein from her fatherlike her brother Charles.THE FIRST PROPOSALOne of the first proposals came from John Romleywho was very serious. He had worked as an assistant to thevicar Samuel Wesley, and under a short time been curate inEpworth. He was also a teacher.Hetty was not specially interested in him. SamuelWesley was thorough and made an investigation of allcandidates who proposed to his seven daughters. He foundthat Romley was no suitable marriage partner for Hetty.Samuel broke up their contact and sent Hetty away toKelstein near Louth to a Mr. and Mrs. Grantham.She worked as a governess to the two smallchildren. The Grantham´ s were a rich family, and Hetty40

enjoyed being with the family. Who in turn showed theirappreciation and treated her well.THE SECOND PROPOSALIt was in Kelstein that the problems started for the27 year old Hetty. This was not due to the family sheworked with. The reason was that she met a young lawyer.The author G. J. Stevensson tells us in his book “Memorialsof the Wesley Family” that the lawyers name was WillAtkinson. He tells us that Will Atkinson was clever in hisprofession, and that he came from a respectable family.Samuel Wesley came to a different conclusion in hisinvestigation of his personality. Samuel Wesley found outthat Atkinson was a lawyer without principles, and Samueladvised Hetty not to see him anymore. This was SamuelWesley´ s answer to Will Atkinson´ s inquiry if he couldmarry Hetty.RUN AWAY TO GET MARRIEDAs Hetty´ s parents had given their definite no toher marriage, and the passions or shall we say that theiryouthful love were so strong, the lover persuaded her to runaway with him to marry, so she agreed.Because of the strong moral at the time, manyyoung couple run away and married against the will of theirparents. There grew up, due to the strong moral, acompletely new marriage industry in England and Scotland.Some years ago I visited a famous blacksmith´ sworkshop in Gretna Green. The blacksmith had the right to41

perform weddings. Many young English couples had runaway from home and got married here. This blacksmith´ sworkshop and Guesthouse was located just over the boarderto Scotland, so it was outside the jurisdiction of Englishlaw. Many stories were told about horse races between theyoung lovers and their parents, who had discovered thattheir children had run away to get married. The parentsrode off to hinder the young people getting married, butoften the parents came to late to hinder the rite as theblacksmith had struck already his hammer against the anviland proclaimed the performed marriage.Hetty gave in to the promise of her lover and hispromise of marriage, and a future together. Hetty herselfthought that her father always interfered with her love life.Further she was 27 years of age and earned to her ownupkeep. She went away with Will. They stayed over nighttogether. The next day when the wedding should takeplace, Will disappeared and did not bother about hispromises. He lived up to the personal act that SamuelWesley had obtained of Will Atkinson. It was these factsthat Samuel Wesley used to warned Hetty.The result of this one night together with her loverhad made her pregnant.RETURNED HOME IN DEFEATHer lover had deserted her, and therefore she hadto return home. Through this act defeat was completed.What was even worse was that from this time tragedy washer future. When she came home, she met her father. You42

can imagine the meeting between the vicar and hisdisobedient daughter. Here you meet the Priest whofollowed the system of rules in the 18 th century. The ruleswere strengthened by his puritan education. In addition tohis actions, came his lack of understanding and sympathyfor his daughter and her behaviour. She had qualifiedherself to be shut out from her home. Samuel wouldimmediately have closed the doors for her at the home inEpworth, if it had not been for Susanna Wesley, his wife,who prayed for their adult daughter. From our way ofthinking today, I feel that Samuel did not show Christianlove for his daughter who needed help and support. Oneextra child and Hetty, in that big family would not havebeen noticed.There were certainly many factors that played apart in Samuel Wesley´ s decision. Samuel and Susannabelonged to highly respected families; Wesley andAnnesley, and in addition Samuel was a respected Priest inthe Anglican Church. Further it was a hard blow in hispatriarchal pride that his beloved daughter with herintellectual capacity and literal education should oppose hiscommand, and show her disobedient to her father´ sdecision that she should give up resign the proposed man.THE FEELINGS CONQUER REASONThe conflict between father and daughter was apity, because reason overcame emotions and in thissituation one often does things that one later repents.Samuel could not see the pain and the psychological43

suffering Hetty went through due to the fact that she hadcommitted an unforgivable sin according to the moralconcept of the time. Through her act she had placed herselfoutside the love and care of her parents.The spirit, that showed what we today nameChristian love and care, came from her sister Mary, whowas handicapped. She took sides for Hetty against herfather´ s mercilessness, and she asked Hetty to stay athome, and not to go through with her awful plan. Her planwas that she had decided to marry the first and best manwho proposed to her. The reason for her decision was thenegative reception she received at home, as well as theimpossible situation that she would experience if she inspite of everything could stay at home.Hetty put her plan into action, she could not doanything else because of her parents attitude that forced herto leave home.She met William Wright from Louth, a plumberby profession and also illiterate, who travelled around withhis tools on his back getting work where he could.Unfortunately Hetty discovered quite early that they were abad match for each other, and did not wish to go throughwith the marriage, however, her father compelled her sothat the child she was carrying should be born in wedlock.We note that Samuel Wesley did not keep to hisearlier principles and investigate William Wright.It is theopinion of many that Samuel showed cruelty towards hisbeautiful and intelligent daughter.The wedding between Hetty and William tookplace at the end of 1725. Today we have compassion withHetty, that the family called their “erring sister”. Hetty44

never disclosed who was the father to the Child, but Dr.Frank Baker maintains that the father of the Child was theman who Samuel Wesley called “the unprincipled lawyer”,Will Atkinson. According to Dr. Baker´ s investigation inthe Church diaries in Haxey Church near Epworth, HettyWesley married William Wright from Louth 13 th October1725. In the Church register for Louth it is written thatbaptism of Mehetabell, daughter to William Wright wasperformed 18 th February 1726. This Child was buried 27 thDecember 1726 in Louth. Hetty was five months pregnantwhen she married. She kept her love child for almost tenmonths.A GOOD BEGINNINGFor a while things went well for Hetty andWilliam. They lived in Louth where William took part inhis fathers plumbing firm. It must have been a great changefor Hetty to live with William. She decided, however, tomake him happy whatever the cost.She must have felt like hell looking at herself inthe mirror. It told her that she had made a tragic mistake,which nothing could change. She should have to atone forthis mistake the rest of her life. This had to be done by herbeing a faithful and devoted wife in spite of their differencein taste and social background. She fulfilled her decisioneven if she had no romantic love for her husband. In spiteof the facts mentioned she liked him and took care of hisinterests.She gave birth to her second child, a son, wholived only a few days.45

The Wesley-girls would not have managedfinancially if they did not have their brothers, Samueljunior, John and Charles. John Wesley was at home duringthe summer of 1726, and helped his father with theCongregational work. He discussed a lot with his fatherconcerning his father´ s treatment of his daughter. The 28 thof August 1726 John Wesley delivered a Sermon inWroote. The theme for the Sermon was: “Universal mercy”or “Compassion against evil persons”. The Sermon wasdirected towards John´ s father. Both Susanna and Samuelunderstood that the Sermon was directed towards Samuel,who felt hurt, and talked to Charles about the Sermon.Samuel said “Every day”, you can hear “ how John goesagainst me and takes part for your sister in front of me. No,he disputes with me”. Charles referred the conversation forJohn, who was reconciled with his father and promised tohelp him with his research around his fathers everlastingstudy: “Dissertation on the Book of Job”.SAMUEL WESLEY THE JOB OF HIS TIMESamuels attitude towards his daughter Hettymakes me postulate the following hypothesis: SamuelWesley identified himself so completely with the sufferingof Job that he relived them in his own sufferings Iconnection with his daughter Hetty. If he pardoned her,then his own suffering would come to an end. His hardnesstoward Hetty was a form of punishing himself for his ownfeelings of guilt. I have not tried to prove my reflections, Ifind it, however, to be an interesting thought for apsychological study. Why should Samuel Wesley be so46

hard and relentless towards his darling daughter? He wouldperhaps like to keep her as a daughter in his byoverprotecting her without sharing her with any stranger.When this failed his feelings for her turned round to lovehate.JOHN WESLEY PREACHEDRECONCILIATIONSamuel Wesley´ s attitude towards Hetty, did notChange after John Wesley´ s Sermon about love andforgiveness. Martha tells in a letter to John 7 th January 1727that Samuel visited his daughter Hetty. Hetty was ill in bedwhen her father came. She had lost her child two daysbefore. It honours Samuel Wesley that he followed themoral code of that time. It tells us that one does not hit orkick a person who already is down. If Hetty had not been inbed grieving her dead son, we don’t know what Samuelwould have said to his daughter.The marriage started now to crack in itsfoundations in spite of Hetty´ s decision to please herhusband. Hetty had got £500 as a wedding gift from heruncle Dr. Matthew Wesley. This gift helped WilliamWright to open his own plumbing and glazier firm in Dean´s Street near Soho in London. Charles Wesley wrote to hisbrother John that he has visited Hetty for the first time inher new home and working place. The letter is dated 1 stJanuary 1728.47

Hetty had surely hoped that the new and betteredworking conditions would create a new relation in theirmarriage, but this did not happen. William, who had been amoderate drinker, turned into an alcoholic. He neglected hisbusiness, ran into debt and made life miserable for Hetty.She experienced maltreatment, when William arrived homeintoxicated. Those, who have worked with alcoholicpersons, know that the whole family are affected by theillness, that it eventually has both economic and socialeffects on the family.WRITES HER PROBLEMS IN POETRYHetty wrote her experiences and her sorrows downin poetry. Here one gets to know how ungrateful andunloving her husband was. On her part she tries to makehim pleased and happy, but it does not seem to be enoughto revive his love for her. What she describes in her poetryshows the typical alcoholic behaviour there love for thebottle replaces love for the nearest. The alcoholic continuesdrinking to forget his problems. He pushes the problemsaside or in front of him. He shows in his behaviour that heis powerless in the face of alcohol. The wife of an alcoholicdoes everything to help him, and keeps the family together.Through her care, she believes she is helping her family,but instead she makes it possible for the alcoholic tocontinue to drink.48

CHILDREN DO NOT HEAL BROKEN MARRIAGESHetty believed that she would be able to tie herhusband to hers through their children. She gave birth toother children, but one by one the children died before shecould register their birth. Hetty was convinced that thereason for the infant mortality was due to the environmentthrough poisoned air. She said that this was due to the factthat lead steam came from her husband´ s workshop. Theirliving quarters were in connection to her husbands shop. Ihave in a work about John Wesley pointed out how hewrites about the problems of environment. He points outthe unhealthy working conditions in foundries and in otherplaces of work where the workers are poisoned by lead andmercury. These are problems that we also wrestle withtoday. John and Hetty had, as that times environmentpioneers, noticed these problems already in the 17 thCentury.Hetty´ s third child was born 25 th September 1728.The Child died three days later. She wrote off her sorrow inpoetic form, and John let the one poem be printed in “Arminian Magazine”.The poem opens as follows:“Tender softness! Infant mild!Perfect, sweetest, loveliest child!Transient lustre! Beauteous clay!Smiling wonder of a day!She finishes her tribute to her dying child, as follows:49

“Ere thy gentle breast sustainsLatest, fiercest, mortal pains,Hear a suppliant! Let me bePartner in thy destiny!”Grief came from the depth of her soul, and soundsas if Hetty wished to die with her child. When her fourthchild died, she had reached the utmost despair.She had tried to make herself as attractive aspossible, to get her husband away from alcohol. Now thehope seemed to be vanishing for her to get a child thatcould awaken her husband´ s fatherly feelings for his child,so that it could get him away from the pubs.SHE BELIEVES IN BEING CURSEDAll the disappointments and bad luck, that Hettyhad experienced, made her believe that she was under acurse from God, and that nothing that she did could atoneher past with God. Here the old relation to her father layaching. She felt the need of his forgiveness. The relation ofperson to person with acceptance and forgiveness has aninner healing effect. Her father, however, hindered herfrom experiencing this liberation. She longed for her fatherto forgive her. That is the reason why that she wrote to herfather and asked forgiveness. The letter finished with thefollowing words:“But I have come to a point where I feelyour forgiveness to be necessary to me.I beseech you, then, not to withhold it.50

Mehet. Wright.”She had also pointed out in the letter that Samuelshared the responsibility for her marriage that haddeveloped so negatively.The letter from her father was a disappointment.He wrote off all responsibility for her marriage to Wright.He found that Hetty had illustrated her letter with what hetells her to abstain from in her next letter, and he tells herwhat he expects to find in that letter:“I advise you to display less witand more evidence of honestself - examination”.Samuel takes side for Hetty´ s husband William.He says that her brothers talk well of him. Further Samuellays a stone on her burden, when he says:“Yet it would teach you that your troubles,if you have any, flow from your own sin, andthat for any inconveniences you may find inmarriage you are probably as much to be blame(at the very least) as your honest husband.”words:Samuel finishes his letter with the following“Restrain your with if you wish to writeagain, and I will answer your next ifI like it.51

Your fatherS. Wesley.”FATHER AND DAUGHTER ARE STILL ALONG WAY FROM EACH OTHEROne wonders what Samuel Wesley was doing,Why is he torturing his girl in this way? In the healing ofsouls it can in the beginning of the treatment be a way offinding out the honesty of the relief seekers repentance, butto torture the repentant and withhold absolution in the waySamuel Wesley did with Hetty, seems to be unique in thehistory of pastoral care.It is difficult to understand Samuel Wesley and hisbehaviour towards Hetty. This is more difficult tounderstand, as he was the man who wrote the book: “Lifeof Our Lord Jesus Christ”. This book shows with scientificprecision the work of Christ. The book is written in poetry.Samuel who had such great knowledge of his Master, JesusChrist, has in his own praxis neglected the Master´ s love,sympathy and forgiveness towards his own daughter. Shehad made an error against the moral code of her time, butwho had fulfilled the command of the Creator that oneshould take part in increasing the population.Hetty wrote a second letter to Samuel Wesley. Inthis letter she explained her marriage in detail. If she hadbeen reconciled with her father before the wedding, thanshe had not gone through with it. She says furthermore inthe letter that if Samuel can not forgive her for what she hassaid, then she shall not bother him any more through sayingtoo much.52

The answer to this second letter did not arrive, orthe letter had got lost. Samuel Wesley remained on theother hand the hard man who did not change his attitudetowards his daughter. One can imagine how one wouldhave felt to be cut off from ones childhood home.BROTHER SAMUEL JUNIOR IS HELPINGHetty, got help from her brother Samuel in hersituation with the limited resources he had. Hetty visited inhis home in Westminster. Here she got to know her sister inlaw. She had to be careful what she said to her sister in lawas she used her shameless tongue. On several occasions shetalked against her husbands family.Both Charles and John often visited Hetty whenshe lived in Soho. John did not visit so often and regularly,as Charles, because of his great working engagements.HETTY´ S SOCIAL CONTACTSOne can easily get the impression that life onlywas boring for Hetty, and that she was completely isolatedfrom social contacts, but it was not so. Her uncle Dr.Matthew Wesley took her to the social amusement centreBath and Tunbridge. She spent a lot of time in his home.Here she met the literary talents of that time in worldmetropolis London. Here she was really appreciated, andthis must have made up for her problems in her marriage.Hetty had contact with Matthew Wesley as long as helived. She nursed him during long periods when he was ill,and 1737 he died in her arms. In his testament, which he53

had dated 22 nd August 1735, he had thought of Hetty with£200 and Hetty´ s daughter Amelia Wright with £100. Thisshows that Hetty had at least one child, who survived thefirst years of childhood, but how long the girl lived is notknown.Hetty was herself an author and poet, but shenever thought to edit her works in books. Her works waspublished in different magazines such as in: TheGentleman´ s Magazine, The Poetical Register, TheChristian Magazine and in The Arminian Magazine. A lotof what she wrote was sent to family members and has gotlost. Some literary authorities believe that Hetty had writtenall or part of the work: “The Hymn of Eupolis to theCreator”. This work had been credited Samuel Wesley.This is regarded as his best writing.The interesting thing was that a great part of theoriginal poem was in Hetty´ s handwriting while the editedversion was in Samuel´ s handwriting.SUSANNA RENEWS CONTACTS WITH HETTYFirst after Samuel´ s death in 1735 took Susannacontact with Hetty. This happened when Hetty moved toJohn in London 1739. At this time the five Wesleydaughters, who were still alive, gathered in London, andthey met often with their mother Susanna.Hetty´ s husband hindered her in her religious life,because she obeyed him according to the customs of thattime. Later on in life William Wright changed his attitudetowards his wife, and she became a Methodist. JohnWesley tells us that he received help for a short time from54

Hetty in his work for God. He adds that he had help fromthe person that he least of all had expected.ALONE AND TIREDWhen those who stood Hetty nearest had died;Susanna, Mary and uncle Matthew, Hetty felt alone andtired, but she continued seeking an inner peace. She wrotein 1743 a letter to John where she tells that she has for along time wished to know one thing; Jesus Christ ascrucified. This remains above all other desires. She tellsalso how fear had hindered her from confessing her faithdue to preconceived opinions in the environment. She is ofthe same opinion as John in the question of religion. Shehas the hope that in the country, she is on her way to, shallshe not sing “hallelujah” and “Holy, holy, holy” alone, asshe has done in this country.Hetty´ s husband permitted her to travel from herhome to seek health. Her brothers helped her, so that shegot to the famous spa in Bristol. She was nursed by Mrs.Vigor, and other Methodist nurses at the recreation homein Bristol. Here she experienced the warm Christianfellowship, that she had missed during recent years. Shereturned home much better, but not completely healed.Hetty was a disabled person during the last years of her life.Charles Wesley often visited her, at the same time as hetried to convert her husband.55

TO DIE IN HAPPINESSHetty said to a friend, that she had wanted to doefor a long time, because as you know: “We Methodists diesalways in happiness”. The 21 st of March 1750 she died atan age of 53 years. It was at the time when London wasshaken by Earthquake. This was a symbolic end of hertragic life. Of her brothers and sisters it was only Charleswho followed her to her grave. Today there is no one whoknows were she is buried. Her life was a combination oftragedy and victory. We find in Hetty a human spirit thatwas cleansed through sorrow and penance, but who foundpeace and rest in the goodness of God through Christ Jesuswho in spite of all embraced her in a strange way withouthuman assistance in the Church.ANN OR NANCY (1702-- )Ann or Nancy was the daughter that arrived afterHetty in the girl succession in the Wesley family. There islittle known about her. I cannot find anything about her inJohn Wesley´ s Journals. There are neither any reference toher in John´ s letters. This is the reason why I have to relyon small notes in different books within the Wesleyliterature. The Bishops wife Rebecca Lamor Harmon cannot even find the year of her death. On the other hand oneknow that she was born in Epworth 1702. This anonymitywas may be due to the fact that she was unique in theWesley family. She was one of the girls who had a happymarriage. Such a marriage does not give rubrics in “TheSun” or other gossip papers. It is said that health is quiet.56

MARRIED TO JOHN LAMBERTAnn married John Lambert, a surveyor inEpworth. He seems to have been a man with a goodeducation. It was he who collected and preserved SamuelWesley´ s printed Writings from the early period of hisministerial authorship.John Lambert had one weakness. This was hisliking for alcohol. His drinking increased by his contactwith Hetty´ s debauched and irresponsible husband. Thecontact with this drinking companion was not so frequentthat it disturbed Nancy´ s and John´ s marriage happiness.FROM EPWORTH TO HATFIELDJohn and Nancy moved from Epworth to Hatfield,Hertfordshire, after that they had lived in Epworth for someyears. They had an open home. Nancy´ s brothers John andCharles often came to visit, and got a much needed break intheir hectic travelling.Some years ago I visited Hatfield. I found it to bea beautiful place with typical English buildings, and withsmall parks in between the houses. Here they had renovatedold semidetached houses in the original style. The lowhouses reminded one about by gone times. Here was also apub in a semi circle corner house. On the one side of thehouse ran a straight road, and on the other side the roadsloped up to the right. Here was a big memorial plaque onthe wall beside the entrance, where plate one could readthat Charles Dickens used to take “a pint” of beer here, and57

that he used to bring his dog with him. There were literaryfigures in Hatfield too, but we don’t know if Ann or Nancy,as she was called, moved in the literary circles here. Shemust have received the same possibilities for education inliterature in Susanna´ s School in the Parsonage inEpworth, as the other Wesley children.As Ann and John Lambert, the surveyor, lived apeaceful life without scandals and without any misfortunes,there is nothing to write about the two. This may be thereason why we don’t know so much about them. We knowthat people are hungry to know about gossip and scandals,while health and soundness speaks a low-voiced language.Ann or Nancy is one of the few Wesley-girls thatone has nothing sensational to write about.MARTHA (5/8 1706- 7/11 1791)Martha Wesley, who was four years younger thanher brother John, was born in Epworth. She was oftencalled Patty. She is named in John Wesley´ s testament.Here it is stated that if she lives she will get £40 from thefirst income from his books. He also wrote letters to her,which we shall mention later on in this description.Martha resembled her brother John, in appearanceand the two had a lot in common in temperament. Theirhandwriting was almost identical. She was one of the mostaffectionate and loving persons in the Wesley family.Martha did not do anything hastily. What she didwas well thought out. She was balanced, and if she haddecided something, then nobody could make her changeher mind. She did not have the alert intellect and the ready58

wit in discussions that her brothers and sisters wereequipped with. She was serious and thoughtful even fromchildhood.MARTHA A SERIOUS GIRLSusanna Wesley was a good empiricist. She sawwhat was moving in Martha´ s mind and she observed herbehaviour. Her mother was observant to her child´ sseriousness and thoughtfulness. This is made clear in ahappening that is recorded by Adam Clarke. He entered thenursery in Epworth. All children were exhilarated withhappiness and playful except Martha who sat thereabsorbed in her own thoughts. Susanna rebuked thechildren. She told them that they would one day becomemore serious. Martha replied instantly: “Shall I be moreserious, mother?” “No”, answered Susanna.There were a mutual good relationship betweenJohn and Martha, the brother and sister, who looked somuch alike. John never took part in mischief that couldmake Martha angry.Martha was always together with her mother.Susanna was Martha´ s great favourite. When the otherchildren played, Martha was together with her mother andpicked up everything she could learn.SMALL LOVE AFFAIRSMartha or Patty was involved in several small loveaffairs in her youth. One love story she had with a teacher,John Romley. He served also as a curate to Patty´ s father59

Samuel Wesley. Romley served also as assistant whileSamuel worked on his book concerning the biblical personJob. May be one should mention that Romley had earlierbeen in love with Hetty. The romance did not develop sofar that it ended in marriage, and this was good for Patty.That I make this value judgement depends on the fact thatRomley drank. He became an alcoholic, and came to atragic end.Martha tried working in the household in the samefamily that Hetty served in Kelstein. She did not like thework, and she was not successful in this task, so she soonreturned home.PATTY IN LONDONPatty visited her uncle Dr. Matthew Wesleyseveral times in London. He lived near Temple Bar inLondon. He visited Epworth 1731 and invited MarthaWesley to stay in his home in London. Her uncle Matthewwas a surgeon.For several years Martha was like a familymember at Dr. Matthew Wesley in London. Here she gotall the comfort that she missed in the Parsonage inEpworth. Her uncle was not a saintly Christian, so Marthalonged for the spiritual fellowship in the Church, which shewas used to from home. Therefore she visited her brotherSamuel Wesley who was a Lecturer at WestminsterCollege, Westminster in London. Her plain way of life wasnot in Ursula´ s liking. Ursula was Samuel Wesley junior´s wife, so her visits became few and far between to herbrother and sister in law.60

MANY WHO PROPOSED TO MARTHAThere were several men, friends to John Wesley,who proposed to Martha. During the time she stayed withher uncle Mathew, she met Westley Hall. He had been afellow student to John and Charles ay Oxford University.Now he was a Priest. One believed that he had a finecharacter with a promising future. Martha and Westley gotengaged in secret. Mr. Hall travelled with John Wesley toEpworth to meet the family. While he was there he fell inlove with Kezzy Wesley, the youngest daughter in thefamily. No one in the family had an idea about his band toMartha. On his return to London, Westley Hall resumed hiscontact with Patty. In the beginning of 1735 they marriedwith Dr. Matthew Wesley´ s consent. Patty received a greatwedding present from her uncle. He wrote her name in histestament.As Dr. Matthew Wesley had given his consent to thewedding, then Susanna Wesley gave her blessing to theunion.The marriage seemed happy for several years.Martha bore 10 children, but only one survived childhood.This child was a boy named John. His father was so brutaltowards his only son. This was the reason why CharlesWesley found a foster-home for the boy away from his realhome. Charles paid the expenses. The boy was wellequipped intellectually, and one had hopes for him.However the boy got smallpox and died at the age of 14years.61

THE TRUE NATURE OF WESTLEY HALLThe true nature of Westley Hall started to showlittle by little. He was uncertain in his faith, and went fromone confession to another. He was also unfaithful in hismarriage. These happenings were as a shock for his wifeand family, may be not for us, who know his philosophy.He was theoretically for polygamy that he practised.Mr. Hall had sex with a dressmaker, who Marthahad engaged, and who lived in the house. This relationshipwent on unnoticed until the dressmaker went into labour.The servants informed Martha about everything that hadbeen going on in the house. Mr. Hall left the house at once.Martha helped the dressmaker during her labour.When it was over, Martha went out to search for Mr. Hall.She forgave him, and persuaded him to come home. Hisbrutality against his son I have referred to previously.Mr. Hall´ s polygamy philosophy continued inpractice. He went to the West Indies together with amistress. He was there until his death.MARTHA MOVES TO LONDONMartha Wesley moved to London after herhusband had left her. She had a small dowry herself, butshe was dependent on her brothers for her living. She tookher difficulties in her stride. She never spoke badly abouther husband who had deserted her. She never felt sorry forherself. This can be due to her Christian faith and trust inthe providence of God, her psychological mentality or that62

she experienced her new situation as an experiencedliberation.Patty was totally engrossed in the work in “theMethodist Societies” in London. She also had her placeamong the intellectuals in London. It was not only adultsthat liked her, but children loved her. This can be due to herkind and unselfish nature.CONTACT WITH DR. SAMUEL JOHNSONIt might be of interest to the readers that thefamous author Dr. Samuel Johnson held Martha in highesteem. He seemed to think that conversation with Marthawas both informative and stimulating. It was Dr. Johnson,who said: “He who is tired of London, is tired of life”. Itcan be of interest to write down some lexicographicalinformation about “the Socrates of England”.Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784), was an Englishauthor, lexicographical writer and literary critiques. He wasthe son of a bookseller in Lichfield. He was not a healthyperson and was afflicted by nervous disturbances fromchildhood, which carried with it periods of melancholy. Hegrew up in poor conditions, but early in life learned to lovebooks. He studied at Oxford University, but he had to breakoff his studies due to lack of funds. He married an olderwidow. He tried the teaching profession, but without anysuccess- He moved to London at the age of 27 to try as anauthor. There followed years of great poverty. He tried towrite drama with the work of tragedy; “Irene” that was63

edited 1737. This play was performed 1749. As a poet hewrote the satire “London” 1738. This was an imitation ofthe book “Juvenalis”. He won acknowledgement for thispublication. In 1749 his work “Vanity of human wishes”was edited. This became his greatest poetic feat. Hebecame famous for his weekly magazine “The Rambler”,1750 to 1752, and for his great “English dictionary” thatcame 1755. He had worked with this book for nine years.He also came out with a philosophical novel called“Rasselas” which became very popular. His economicposition became more secure during George III´ s andButes Tory administration which 1762 granted him a yearlylife pension amounting to £300. He disliked the work, buthe completed the great critical biographical work in 1781called “The lives of the poets”. This work was concernedwith the English poets from Milton to Gray.His talent for conversation is demonstrated in“Johnson´ s club” from 1764. The biographer J. Boswellhas made Johnson more known than his own works. It is aten volumes work, which is concerned with the Englishpoets.Dr. Johnson´ s House was located in Bolt Court,Fleet Street. Dr, Johnson who was weak as a child, becameas he grew up powerful and well built.Dr. Johnson who was deeply religious, invitedMartha to become a member of his household together withseveral other friends. He had got a state pension for £300annually. Her father, Samuel Wesley, got a received of£150 a year, and John Wesley´ s cost of living was £30 ayear.64

Martha Wesley said:” no thank you”, to Dr.Johnson´ s invitation, but she was often a guest at his table.Several subjects were discussed at the table such as literary,political and often theological questions. Both SamuelJohnson and Martha Wesley Hall were in sympathy withthe Tory party, and against the Whig party. It was firstwhen the Tory party came into power that Dr. SamuelJohnson got his pension.It was Mrs. Martha Wesley Hall who introducedJohn Wesley to Dr. Samuel Johnson in the year 1784. JohnWesley was a widely read man both in sciences andliterature, so he was well equipped for conversation withthe famous and talented converser. John Wesley urgesPatty, his sister, to do all the good possible. This statementwe find in John Wesley´ s diary volume IV. He adds thatthe best fruit grows under the cross. May be I should addthat Dr. Johnson was the great literary critic and moralist ofhis time.Martha survived all members of her big family.She died four months after John Wesley. She took John´ sdeath very badly, and it seemed that she would not live anylonger when John had gone.MARTHA DIES AND IS LAID IN THE SAMEGRAVE AS HER BROTHER JOHNSarah, the daughter of her brother Charles sat atMartha´ s when she died. Martha had visited a lot inCharles home after they moved to London. Sarah wasMartha´ s favourite niece. Sarah had asked if she could bewith her aunt at her death. Martha had answered that she65

could if she could stand it. Furthermore she said that Sarahwas not permitted to mourn her more than half an hour.This tells something about Patty´ s character, I think.Martha was buried in the same grave as herbrother John had been laid in four months earlier. Thisgrave is located behind City Road Chapel. This act wassymbolic, because they were sister and brother bodily, andthey stood close to each other during their lives. They didnot separate in death but followed each other to the otherside with only four months interval.It was to Martha that John bequeathed £40 in histestament from the sale of his books, which should be givento her after his death. She did not live long enough toreceive this inheritance. What she herself left went to SarahWesley, whom she liked so much.KEZZIAH (MARCH 1709 – 9/3 1741)Kezziah Wesley was born in the Parsonage inEpworth. She is the only one of the seven girls from theParsonage in Epworth who did not marry. The historianshave discussed what the reason could be, why she did notmarry. There can have been several different reasons whyshe did not marry, among others have been because of herweak health.She had an ambition to have a well equipped brainthrough studies. She grew up in an environment thereintellectual work was highly esteemed. Her intellectualeducation was often interrupted by illness.66

Kezziah had also another side, which can havefrightened possible suitors. There are namely no historians,who write about her beauty, as they wrote about her sisters.She seems to have been conscious about this fact throughwhat we call the mirror I. This means that one mirrorsoneself in the environment and learns from the response orthe feed back that one gets from the surroundings. This isclearly seen in a letter that she wrote to John Wesley, herbrother, in 1729. John sent money to her. It was in a letterto James Hutton 9 th of April 1739 that John asked him togive a guinea to Charles Wesley to be forwarded to hissister Kezziah.KEZZIAH CHANGES TO KEZZEYWhen she was 18 years old she was calledKezzey, as a pet name, when she came to a boardingSchool in Lincoln where her sister Emilia was Principal,and Kezzey should work as an assistant and at the sametime be a student. Both jobs should be half time. She gotfree boars and lodging as well as free education as paymentfor her work as an assistant. She did not have the incomethat could buy the cloths she needed to show her position inthe School hierarchy. The result was that she returned toher home in Epworth.Kezzey was reserved and she experiencedfrustration or disappointment that her economic situationwas such that she could not continue her studies.She thought that she should be short-lived. Shesaid further that with her economy, the unmarried civil stateshould be the best thing for her.67

It has surprised the historians that Westley Hallcould have a love affair with both sisters, Martha andKezzy, without any of them knowing anything aboutWestley´ s relation to the other sister. He had proposedmarriage to both girls without either of them knowingabout this. One explanation can be the bad communicationat that time. Furthermore was the distance betweenEpworth and London was long. The one proposal tookplace in London and the other in Epworth. That the clearthinking mother, Susanna Wesley, should be willing to lether two daughters marry Westley Hall, who could showsuch double behaviour, is difficult to understand. Westley´s behaviour had also made Martha blind.Kezzy forgave him and concluded that the lovebetween them could not continue. She could observe thisherself as she stayed with the Hall family in their Parsonageover the years.SHE MOVES TO LONDONWhen the home in Epworth was dissolved afterSamuel Wesley´ s death, Kezzy was permitted to live withher brother Samuel in London. Later on, John Wesleyarranged so that she could live as a paying guest with thevicar in Bexley, Henry Piers. He had been a member of“the Holy Club” in Oxford. The historian tells us thatKezzy was happy here. Both her brothers, John and Charlesvisited her as often as they could.Some historians tell us that in her last years of herlife she felt in love, and was engaged to a “gentleman”. Ihave not been able to find his name. This planned marriage68

was hindered by Kezzy´ s death the 9 th of March 1741.Kezzy´ s brother Charles was at her bedside when she died.THE RELATION BETWEEN CHARLESAND KEZZY WAS VERY GOODThere was a specially good relationship betweenKezzy and her brother Charles, who was two years olderthan her. He protected her in all her difficult experiences,and Kezzy cared for her brother. This is shown by theevents in 1738 when Charles became very ill, and Kezzycame from Bexley to nurse him. She had a delicateconstitution, and the nursing work was so hard so shebecame ill soon after Charles got better.The good relation between Charles and Kezzy waslike the relation between John and Patty or Martha, as herreal name was.When one looks back on the lives of the Wesleygirls, then one has to confess that they shows us greattragedy. Some of the situations could have been avoided,but most of them were unavoidable. We find that SusannaWesley suffered together with her girls and sometimes thesuffering was so intense that she became ill.One thing speaks to the girls advantage. Theynever showed any jealousy towards their famous brothersand their success. They were happy on behalf of theirbrother´ s. The girls laid a greater claim on their brother´ stime than they should have. This was probably due to thefact that they moved in narrow circles while their brothers69

were more out and about. In this was they had a lot to tellwhich could enrich their lives.The solidarity that was characteristic for the homeof the vicar in Epworth lasted a lifetime. The Wesley boystook care of the Wesley girls and looked after themthroughout their lives. It is a surprising to note how thebrothers cared for their sisters and their children andgrandchildren, when they needed help.THE WOMEN AROUND JOHN WESLEYJohn Wesley was a High Church Anglican Priest.He was inclined to celibacy, and thought that he could domore for the Kingdom of God as unmarried than he coulddo as a married man. The conflict between these two ideasmade him doubtful to marriage. This made him, as a 32years old, abstain from marrying Sophia Hopkey inGeorgia. He made however the mistake, as a 48 year oldman, to marry the widow Mrs. A. N. Vazeille, who was ashrew.John was ordained a Priest in September 1725 andhe was elected Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, 17 th ofMarch 1726.BIOGRAPHIES OF JOHN WESLEYI had read biographies about John Wesley before Istarted my studies at the Union Theological Seminary,Överås, Gothenburg, where I could make deeper studies onWesley both in books and in compendia. It was the rev.Axel Lager, B.A., who taught Wesley literature in70

combination with the history of missions. Already at thattime I had a special interest in the subject Wesley and thewomen around him. The interest, was may be, at that time,mostly the women who were interested in the Wesley boys.Witnesses from that time show that both the boys and thegirls from the Parsonage in Epworth were smart and hadcharm and elegance, that drew attention in society both inLondon and in the fashionable circles in England. TheWesley girls were also well educated. Let Hetty Wesley bean example. She was one of the most intelligent girls in theWesley family. She read Greek New Testament at the ageof eight years old. Later on she was one of the writers in“The Gentlemen´ s Magazine”. Martha Wesley was one ofDr. Samuel Johnson´ s favourites, and was one of theliterary figures that were a guest in the great author in hishome. Emilia Wesley taught in a Boarding School inLincoln.A WOMAN LECTURER IN SWEDENIN LOVE WITH JOHN WESLEYI knew that a woman lecturer had told her girlstudents in her class in the College in Halmstad, Sweden,that she had contact with a man that she was in love with.She met him at 4 O´ clock every morning. The girlslistened eagerly wanting to know what romantic story theirlecturer in Christendom was engaged in. The girls knewthat their teacher was working on her doctor dissertation,but they could not imagine that it was an academic romancethat was going on. The excitement soon came to an endwhen Laura Petri disclosed that it was John Wesley she71

wrote about in her dissertation. We know the result of herwork that led up to her doctors degree with her book: JohnWesley, Uppsala, J. A. Lindblad´ s Förlag, 1928.MEETING SOPHY HOPKEY AT EMORYUNIVERSITY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA.When I came to Emory University, Atlanta,Georgia, where I worked on my M.A.-degree in SystematicTheology and Philosophy, I met again with the subjectWesley and the women around him.I defended my Masters dissertation in front ofseveral professors. Professor and Dean William R. Cannongave the course in the Theology of John Wesley as well asthe History of the Methodist Church. Later on he becameBishop in the Methodist Church. I remember that at one ofmy tests I had a question about John Wesley and MissSophy Hopkey. This was completely natural as I was inGeorgia where John Wesley had arrived as a missionary. Itwas also here that he fell in love with this girl of 18 years.He was 32 years old at that time.JOHN WESLEY WENT FROM ANOXFORD DON TO A MISSIONARYAMONG RED INDIANS IN GEORGIA.John Wesley had for nine happy years worked atOxford University. He had been a Fellow of LincolnCollege. At Oxford he lectured once a week over the Greek72

New Testament. He was further chairman of the studentdiscussions every day. He lived the life that he and hisfriends had decided should be suitable for a Christian. Hisfather, Samuel Wesley, was getting old and he needed anassistant in his parish. He wished that John would take overthe parish in Epworth to hinder that a Priest who was onlyinterested in foxhunting should get the spiritual work in theparish. John Wesley hesitated so long that it became toolate. A “fox-hunter” had taken over the Parish. SamuelWesley died and was buried on Epworth Church yard.John Wesley could now stay on at Oxford as aFellow. He now changed over to another extreme, andsigned up as a voluntary worker for mission work amongthe Indians in Georgia, America. General James Oglethorpestarted at this time to organize the colony Georgia withprisoners from London who had run into debt.General Oglethorpe needed a Chaplain to workamong the new colonists. The general had been a friend ofSamuel Wesley. He offered the position to the son of hisfriend. John was doubtful about the offer, but the doubtdisappeared after he had told his mother Susanna Wesley.She was the woman who had the strongest influence onJohn Wesley, as long as he lived. Susanna said to him: “If Ihad 20 sons, than it should make me happy if they had suchan occupation even if I never should see them again”. JohnWesley accepted the occupation as a missionary in “theSociety for the Propagation of thee Gospel to the Indians”with a yearly salary of £50. If he had taken over his fatherscall as a vicar in Epworth, he would have received a yearlysalary of £150.73

WESLEY´ S MISSION ROMANTICISMJohn Wesley had a romantic view on Indians ofthat time. The view said that the Indians were willing toaccept the Gospel. He had to change his romantic view ashe stood face to face with reality. The Indians who hethought made an exception the better view, was theChoctaw-Indians. His view he founded on his experience inthe mission work.When Wesley travelled to America he had beenimpressed by short stories and novels, which he had read.He treated the Indians according to the philosophy of thebooks. According to the books the Indians were the noblered men who stood there with open arms and a heart andmind that would receive the Gospel. Wesley gave, in hisJournals, the Indians many favourable epithets. When hemet reality, they were gluttons, thieves, liars, hypocritesand deceivers with the exceptions of the Choctaw-Indians.CULTURES AND CLASSES COLLIDESWesley did not understand the people of Georgia,with whom he should work. This statement includes boththe Indians and the colonial people. Today we would call ita cultural collision. This did not only mean the culture ofthe Indians and the culture Wesley brought with him fromEngland. It was also a cultural collision between twoEnglish social groups on American soil. The two groupswere the high Church University culture that met thesocially deprived people from England. The latter one hadgot a new freedom in Georgia. Now they met a74

epresentative for the upper class culture from England. Itwas no wonder that there was a collision between theestablished culture from England, and the young fightingraw material that built up the colonies in Georgia. Therewas also at the same time a collision between the HighChurch State Religion from England and a non- conformistChurch that had fled from the stiffness in England to theFree Church tradition in America.It was not easy to be John Wesley in Georgia inthe year 1735. It was that year that the Wesley brotherssailed over to Georgia in America with the ship “TheSimmonds”. It was in the middle of October 1735, that theysailed from England. John Wesley learnt German so that hecould speak to the 26 moravians among the passengers.During the voyage John taught the Germans English. Hecould himself already speak Latin, French and Italian. OnSaturday the 18 th of October 1735 he baptized, AmbrosiusTackner, a 30- year old man, who had only been baptizedby a layman. Tackner would now like to be baptized by aPriest.THE WORLDS GREATEST LOVE STORIESIn “The Star” Monday 7 th July 1958 there was aNewspaper article number 2 in a series concerning theworlds greatest love stories. The named article concernsJohn Wesley. Anthony Praga says in his article with theheading: “Love was torture for John Wesley”. Wesleycame in the series in company with Napoleon´ s love lettersto Josephine, these letters are presented in number three inthe series.75

JOHN WESLEY AND SOPHY HOPKEYIn addition to the misunderstanding with theIndians and the settlers in Georgia, he fell in love with ayoung woman named Sophy Hopkey. He should havemarried her, but did not so. She married another man andWesley took to Church discipline. He excluded Sophy fromthe Lords Supper. There were rumours around. Sophy´ shusband reported John Wesley and he notified the court.The charge was defamation. It was in the middle of astormy tea party that John Wesley decided to return toEngland. He realized that he was not so useful in Georgia.This was not the end of Wesley´ s influence in America,which came to be great. This influence did not come fromWesley, as a High Church missionary, but from Wesleyand the Free Church that grew out from the movement thatwas known by the name the Methodist Church.Sophy Hopkey was Thomas Causton´ s niece. Hewas the chief lawyer or judge in the town Savannah.Wesley stayed at his house when he first came to Georgia.It was here he first met Sophy. She was still a teenage girlwith a delicate and an exquisite beauty. She appealed moreto Wesley´ s intellect than to his eyes. She was tall andgracious with light brown hair and brown hazel - nut eyes.She dressed ordinarily, and she had gracious manners. Shewas that kind of woman that appealed to Wesley. This wasthe first time he felt attracted to a woman, if one look awayfrom the dreams of the boy and his courtship to BettyKirkham, daughter to the vicar in Stauton. This must havebeen very different than the childhood love for Betty,76

ecause now both his feelings and spiritual nature hadcome to maturity, and gave him a new experience with abigger depth than the fleeting childhood feelings. Wesleydid not understand or he apprehended as in a mist that hewas in love. He could not differentiate this love of eros,which has a body, from the divine agape love that wasbound to the soul.He tried to disperse or to sublimate this newpassionate energy into spiritual exercise and activities. Hestarted Sophy´ s education and became her adviser andinstructor in everything. By pushing away his feelings hemeant that he was only interested in her heavenly welfare.They read a lot of devotional literature as well astheological studies.Anthony Praga says that John Wesley worked forten persons during this period, and he sang enough for awhole choir of angels, he prayed as if should be a wholecongregation, and he abstained from food and water to aminimum. He was eating only to keep his life going. Thisbehaviour indicates that he must have been deeply in love.He believed that he looked upon her, with aMinister of the Church and his impersonal eyes, who looksat his Congregation from a distance, and not with theloving eyes of nearness. Rumours started to go circulate asthe two were so much together both early and late. Shecame every morning to the early morning Service in theParsonage, had breakfast and walked for hours with JohnWesley in the Garden.Both her uncle, judge Causton and GeneralGovernor Oglethorpe encouraged the two to marry. Thingsdeveloped in another direction.77

Sophy had many eyes directed towards her. Thepurser Tom Mellichamp had troubled her for some time. Hewas a good for nothing, and had threatened to kill her if shemarried another man. She turned to John Wesley to gethelp and protection. He could neither leave her nor marryher.Sophy loved John Wesley, but his uncertainty andunsettled attitude together with the reproach from her auntdrove here to marry William Williamson. This chockedWesley, when he got to know about the engagement. Evenif John understood what a loss he was about to experience,he was as uncertain in his decision as before. If he had saida word to Sophy, then she had answered yes.When Wesley did not take the chances, that shegave him during the engagement, she married WilliamWilliamson. They went to a near by Congregation, andwere married by a Swiss Minister in Purysburg. Jealousynow blinded John Wesley, and he got involved in theconflicts that have been mentioned earlier in this work. Hisonly passionate experience was over. He had fought againstthe form of feelings that he thought could get him to getastray from his God given mission. Through his spiritualstrength he conquered his disappointment as well as allslander as well as the rumours spread around.There is a similarity between John Wesley´ s lovestory and that of the Danish Philosopher, Theologian andthe father of existentialism Sören Kierkegaard. Sören wasengaged to Regine Olsen. He made her break off theengagement. She married Fritz Schlegel. Sören made aprophetic statement. He said that Regine Olsen should walkwith Fritz Schlegel in the earthly life, but she should walk78

with Sören Kierkegaard through history, and so it has been.Regine Olsen is named together with Sören Kierkegaard inall literature, but only the researcher knows about FritzSchlegel.Sophy Hopkey is walking through history withJohn Wesley. I had to do some research to find out that shehad married William Williamson, and spend her life withhim. In all the tests made in Wesley history there arequestions about Sophy, but no about William Williamson.We could therefore use Sören Kierkegaards words aboutRegine Olsen transferred over to Sophy Hopkey. Shewould walk with William Williamson through earthly life,but with John Wesley through history, and so it has been.JOHN WESLEY MARRIESJohn Wesley married in 1751. He was then 48years old. This happened 16 years after his love affaire inGeorgia, but now life became a tragedy for him. AnthonyPraga wrote as a heading on his article about “The World´ sgreatest love Stories” that “Love was torture for JohnWesley”. He did not understand the psychology of womenconcerning sex or married life, and therefore things turnedout as they did. On the Spiritual and Divine side, however,he was sovereign. He has got the epithet “St. John ofEngland”, which indicates that he is the apostle of love inEngland. He radiated the Gospel of love and gracethroughout the world. He has been known as the founder of“The religion of the warmth heart”, who are searching forHoliness or Christian Perfection.79

EVERYONE FALL IN LOVE WITH JOHN WESLEYJames Hutton wrote to count Zinzendorf in thebeginning of the Wesley- boys career. He said that theWesley- boys made a trap for young women: “Everyonefall in love with them”.This move towards John Wesley can haveconnection with the fact that he was a strong religiousleader. He had what we today call “charisma”.There is much that tells us that Wesley did notmeet many strong women in society. He had his motherSusanna Wesley who was an extraordinarily strong womanboth intellectually and practically. His sisters were also of aunique quality, so even lady Huntingdon. Even if ladySelina Huntingdon looked to the Wesley brothers for helpand advice, so it seems that John Wesley did not make anystrong impression on her in the direction of fellowship inlove.During his College time John Wesleycorresponded with several of the sisters of his studyfellows. One of the girls especially said that she loved Johnmore than any one else except for God and the King. Noneof these women, however, continued the friendship withhim.JOHN WESLEY AND GRACE MURRAYJohn Wesley´ s next love affair was with GraceMurray. She was a widow after a sea captain, who had diedat sea. She was a manager for one of the Methodist Centres80

that Wesley had founded. He admired her for hercleanliness, her feeling for order and her businessliketransactions in the Newcastle House. Wesley and Mrs.Murray spent a lot of time together. She travelled with himon several of his preaching tours. She was, may be, the onlywoman who knew how one should live with this man withhis special quality. After a long acquaintance and workingtogether Wesley told her that he would like to marry her.She answered that it was a great honour and she accepted.Wesley was a bit blue-eyed. He thought that everythingwas all right and without hinder on the way forward. Hewent on a visiting tour to the Methodist Societies. Heshould get marry when he returned from the inspectiontour. There were two factors that Wesley had not taken intoaccount. One was that Mrs. Murray had a good friend inJohn Bennet, one of Wesley´ s preachers. Mrs. Murray andJohn Bennet were more than good friends.The other hinder for John´ s marriage was Charles,his own brother. When Charles heard about the possibilitythat John should marry Mrs. Murray, then he intervened.From his student time at Oxford the Holy Club had 12rules. One rule said that in case of love that could lead tomarriage then they should seek counsel from each other.Charles Wesley rode over to Mrs. Grace Murray,and he told her something that made her marry in hasteJohn Bennet. What Charles said to Grace, we don’t know,but he gave her the impression that all was over and thatJohn Wesley would not marry her. Charles was alsosomething of a snob, who thought more of the socialprestige than John did. John had his societies, whichcontained people from all classes of society, and it was the81

salvation of their souls, which were his first interest and nottheir social position. Charles meant that Grace, who hadbeen a servant maid, should not be suitable for one a sohighly university educated Priest as John. The whole thingwas may be a rush act of Grace with Charles pressing on,and John Bennet so near while John Wesley was far away.Grace said herself that marriage with John Wesley wouldhave been favourable, but she felt herself not worthy ofhim. The day after the wedding John Wesley preached atthe same time as usual.Grace kept her near contact with the Methodistsuntil her death 1803, and her burial Service was conductedby Jabez Bunting. Her husband, John Bennet, broke offwith John Wesley, at the latter end of John Wesley´ s life.John Wesley had been an offer for a coup, and hewrote a report about the happenings that is to be found inBritish Museum. Here he shows real feelings, but nosentimentalities, rather deep disappointment. One cannot doanything else than to feel sorry for John Wesley in hisfailure.JOHN WESLEY MARRIES WITHOUTPERMISSION FROM CHARLESJohn Wesley married finally. He had not gotpermission from Charles to marry.John was now 48 years old. One should think that he wasold enough to make this decision himself. This was,however, a hasty decision. We find a lot written about themarriage in his Journals.82

The 18 th of February 1751 John Wesley marriedMrs. Vazaille, Treadneedle Street. She was a widow after abusinessman. She had a fortune in land worth £10.000,which was written in her name and her four children. Oneof her children, a girl, married Mr. William Smith,Newcastle. He was one of the most influential members of“The Orphan House Society”. John Wesley and MollyVazeille married in Hayes by their friend the rev. CharlesManning.Charles Wesley writes that John had crossed oneof the 12 rules they brought with them from “The HolyClub” in Oxford. It was written in the rules that “Oneshould not take any step towards marriage without firstconsulting the brothers”. Wesley had ignored this. Thiscould depend on bad experience in connection with hisplanned marriage with Grace Murray. John Wesley askedthe Congregation to forgive him for not followed his ownrule. We cannot blame John Wesley for not informingCharles about his marriage. Charles had earlier given awayGrace Murray in marriage, the only woman whounderstood John, and as he had thought to marry.WHY JOHN WRITES LETTERS TO MOLLYAccording to the diaries John Wesley wrote lettersto his wife Molly, so she could be informed about his work:“My dear Molly”, he writes in a letter to her the 27 th ofMarch 1751. It seems like he loved her, at least accordingto the letters. This is in accordance with his personal ethics.In his ethics the duty against his own family is the mostimportant.83

The Wesley biographer L. Tyeman tells thatWesley married Mrs. Vazeille after 15-16 days of courtship. Just after the marriage John Wesley writes in hisJournals an advice to young men. Here he says that theyshould to continue to be unmarried for the sake of Heaven,if there were not reasons for exceptions. The advice andencouragement to the young men has confused theresearchers. The problem is why Wesley wrote these wordsas he himself got married.Wesley and his wife were not much company foreach other. Wesley had felt an attraction to Mrs. Vazeille,when he was ill, and she nursed him during his illness. Hehad only known her during a short period of time beforethis near contact as nurse and patient. Bishop Francis J.McConnell says in his biography: “John Wesley”, that amarriage that is performed because of a relation betweenthe nurse and the sick person she is nursing, has always adoubtful value. Let this statement be what it is worth.Experience show that some such marriages can be asuccess while others do not.Charles Wesley tried to interfere in this marriagetoo. He found to his consternation that Mrs. Wesley hadalso been a maid. It is a fact that a mother to four childrenhas not had time to much more than to work in thehousehold and to care for the home.In the beginning the relationship between Johnand Molly was good. She followed him on his preachingtours through England for two years. Travelling was not ascomfortable then as it is today. The traveller experiencedoften hardships. Disputes seem to have arisen between thecouple concerning the life of the travelling preacher. She84

had been used to the comfort of the home, but started nowto find fault with the life of travelling. Wesley experiencedall the criticism as if “she scraped the flesh off his bones”.What Molly complained about was that she had to ride onhorseback, on the dusty and dirty roads, as well as in rainyweather, the uncomfortable beds and the untasty and badlyserved meals at the inns.It was nothing to wonder over that the middleagedwoman was complaining, as she did not have theascetic disposition of John Wesley had. Molly, as Wesleycalled her in his letters to her, loved Wesley at least up tothe point when she became jealously ill. Wesley gives inhis letters expression for his love for Molly, and he wantsthe relationship between them to continue.MOLLY WAS JEALOUS OVER THEWOMEN JOHN COUNSELLEDMolly was jealous of the women, that JohnWesley wrote letters to. The letters contained advice onspiritual questions. Among the letters was one to Mrs.Lefevre. Wesley says that she was a woman like a dove fullof faith and humble love, and she was innocent as a littlechild. The most difficult problem was the relation to Mrs.Sarah Ryen. All these problems John presented in a letter tohis wife in July 1774, seven years before she died. Wesleywanted to forgive her for all the evil she had caused him.He wanted them to be on good terms. In the letter he writesdown 11 points, which Wesley discusses with her, heshows her how she has hurt him. At the end of the letter he85

writes: “I still love you, and I am as pure as the day I wasborn. I cannot be your enemy; but let me be your friend”.Now I can present some of the problems thatcooled down the relationship between John and Molly. Thetravelling, work and the problems this led to, has alreadybeen mentioned. Now one must find the other reasons whyMolly was jealous on John.First of all there is Wesley´ s care for Sarah Ryen,a woman with a very nervous character. She gave theimpression of being spiritual in her behaviour, but her lifehad been unusual. At one time she had three husbands whowere alive. She had not done anything to divorce themaccording to the law.Wesley was interested in her openness for theDivine impressions that she received. She had a spiritualinfluence, but Wesley made a great blunder. In a letter hetold her about his tragic situation in the family. She wasnot, with her own family problems, a suitable familytherapist for John Wesley, and his marriage problems.UNPLEASANT CONVERSATIONAT THE DINNER - TABLEThis happened at a dinner party in London with 40guests including Sarah Ryan and John Wesley. Here theinfected bubble cracked. Wesley referred to the goodinfluence Sarah Ryan had on his religious life. Wesleylooked upon her as channel for divine influence. He hadwritten to Mrs. Ryan in 1758: “To converse with you inspeech and writing is a blessing for me. I cannot think86

about you without thinking of God. You lead me straight tothe nearness of God”. Sarah was a jewel for Wesley.When Mrs. Molly Wesley had heard enough of theconversation, she stood up, and told the dinner guests Mrs.Ryan´ s whole married career. She criticised of her husbandin harsh words. She talked about her husband and hisfalseness, and much more to blacken his name withoutbeing any truth in what she said. One can think what anatmosphere spread there at the dinner table.Mrs. Molly Wesley made herself guilty of aspiritual-cultural maltreatment of her husband. At the sametime she betrayed her confidence. Bishop Francis J.McConnell says that the most intelligent explanation toMrs. Wesley´ s behaviour was that she was at least halfmad.We can may be agree with him, as we hear that Mollyopened letters, that John had written, and she addedpostscripts to hurt her husband and to make problems forhim.The references to Molly Wesley show that it wasnot easy for John Wesley. He met genuine human problemsin his nearest circle. We understand that John must havehad a strong psyche to be able to live through all this, tokeep his faith as well as his warm heart in tact as well as tocontinue to seek Christian perfection that we have learnt toknow as holiness. In everything that happened to JohnWesley we can see that he was a human person like hismother Susanna Wesley. Susanna played cards to get awayfrom stress, and she gave her children gymnastic trainingby giving her children ballet lessons. She let the balletteachers come home to the parsonage in Epworth to teachthem this art. If Susanna and John were ordinary people87

who are searching for kingdom without always being asaint, then there is also hope for us, or what you think?Mrs. Molly Wesley died 8 th of October 1781 andshe was buried 12 th of October 1781. John was informedabout her death one or two days later.STUDIES AT CAMBRIDGEWhen I studied for the Cambridge UniversitiesTheological Colleges Certificate for Pastoral Theology,which embraced three terms studies after doctoral studies,then we, my wife and I, visited Wesley Methodist Churchin Cambridge certain Sundays. At that time John Doverwas the minister in addition he was chaplain to theUniversity as well as he was chaplain at Homerton College.It was here that we met Miss Hilda Harrison. She was alecturer in English at The Perse School in Cambridge.Miss Hilda Harrison invited us home to lunch ather home in Girton. Girton is known for its Women´ sCollage, Girton College. Over lunch Hilda told about hermother, who was an author, she had written about JohnWesley. We discussed Wesley and Methodism. I was notconscious what an important connection to Wesley andMethodist researchers I had come in contact with.I borrowed books from Miss Harrison, which Iread in Cambridge. I made notes from the books. It wasinteresting reading even if I had no use for the contents atthat time.Now when the interest for Wesley and the womenagain was actuall at the Preachers meeting in Gothenburg,that had its Spring meeting in our home in Ulricehamn, I88

have started to take out the literature and notes on thesubject.I found that Hilda Harrison´ s mother had writtena book named: “Son to Susanna”. Her mother was Mrs. G.Elsie Harrison, and was the daughter of Mr. John S. Simon,one of the great authorities on Wesley research accordingto Bishop Francis J. McConnell.Mrs. G. Elsie Harrison had a great knowledge inthe research of psychology of her time. She had access tothe material of facts from her father, and she herself wasequipped with a unique rich imagination, which by the helpof plain facts could create interesting and readable books.Mrs. Harrison looked for the answer to Wesley´ sfailure in love and marriage. She found it in the fire in theParsonage in Epworth together with Susanna´ s protectionof him. There are several interesting things that Mrs.Harrison seeks an answer to through her sharp and creativeimagination. It is not sure that her interpretation holds infront of a critical investigation and judgement. Nobody can,however, say that her writing is not interesting.There is a lot talk in favour of that the experiencesof childhood influences the behaviour of the adult. Thiscould also have been the fact in the life of John Wesley. Iknew a vicar, who had a very dominating mother. He wasin certain ways in his behaviour hampered as an adult. Hemarried a dominating woman. She could organize life bothin and outside the parsonage like his mother who was also awife to a vicar. This learned man was in his adult lifedirected by what we in deep-psychology call thepsychological direction by distance.89

Mrs. Harrison is not the only one who has writtena psychological interpretation of John Wesley. MarjorieBowen has also contributed with a psychologicalinterpretation of the life of John Wesley. In her work youwill find a lot of interesting information, but also somerational and sceptical things in the presentation. Her bookhas the title: “Wrestling Jacob”. Wesley himself had ascientific temperament. He was furthermore a lecturer inlogic. Logic is the science of reason. In addition to this hehad a critical attitude to life as well as to scientific work.LADY SELINA, COUNTESSOF HUNTINGDON(1707-1791)During the years 1972-73 I studied at CambridgeUniversity. I had M.A. privilege at the university. It was theSenate that had granted my status in the university as amember of Fitzwilliam College. The privilege includedamong other things that all lectures and courses at theuniversity were open for me. This was made known in theuniversity Reporter.I took part in several of the academic activities ofthe university. This I did to get a picture of what was goingon within the different fields of research where I myselfwas active. These activities were concerned with theology,philosophy, psychology and education.The main studies were concerned with anecumenical program named: “Cambridge TheologicalColleges´ Certificate in Pastoral Theology”. There werefive Colleges working together with the program in a90

Federation. The five Colleges were Cheshunt College,Ridley hall, Westcott House, Wesley House andWestminster College. The first College wasCongregational. The next two were Anglican, the fourthwas Methodist and the fifth was Presbyterian. I myselfbelonged to Wesley House and Fitzwilliam College.Why do I mention this? The reason is thatCheshunt College and Westminster College have historicconnection with Lady Selina of Huntingdon. I will return tothis later on in this work.BORN IN A NOBLE FAMILYWho was this woman, who lived her lifecontemporarily with John Wesley during the whole 18 thCentury? She died the same year as John Wesley.Let us give an insight of her and her family. SelinaShirley was born 24 th of August 1707. She was daughter toWashington Shirley, second Earl of Ferrars, at the manorShirley near Ashby in Leicestershire.Selina´ s grandfather was Sir Robert Shirley. Hewas a descendant from “The Earl of Essex”, who was oneof the favourites at court of Queen Elizabeth I´ s. Selinasgrandmother, Sir Robert´ s wife, was ElisabethWashington, descendant from Lawrence Washington fromSulgrave Manor. Sir Robert was chief magistrate in NorthHampton, in the 16 th Century. The famous AmericanPresident George Washington is descended from the samefamily.One summer some years ago I was visitingGeorge Washington´ s childhood Church in Warton near91

Nottingham. On a wall in a small side chapel there were thearms of the Washington family with three stars and somelines of waves. This coat of arms is the prototype for theAmerican flag with its “Stars and stripes”.Lady Selina married Theophilus the ninth “Earl ofHuntingdon”. The marriage took place in 1728 just beforeher 21 st birthday. In the marriage she and her husband hadseven children of whom only three children grew up tomaturity.The traditional social life for the English nobilitywas not of the character that suited the Christian revivalpiety or the deep spiritual life tradition. With Lady Selinasomething new and a more spiritual seriousness enteredinto the nobility in England.THE REVIVAL IS SPREADINGTHOUGH CHRISTIAN WITNESSIt was 1739, the year after the heart warmingexperience of John Wesley in Alders Gate Street that LadyMargaret Hasting, count Huntingdon´ s sister had beendeeply moved by the Methodist preaching. It was throughthe preaching of the rev. Benjamin Ingham, one of JohnWesley´ s early collaborators, who had this influence. LadyMargareth´ s fiery description of her new state of gracemade such an impression on her sister in law that LadySelina wished that she too owned the new spiritual life.During a malignant illness she gave herself up tothe care of Jesus Christ. From this day her life received anew direction. She sent a message to the brothers John and92

Charles Wesley, who were preaching revival near by; thatshe had become one of them in spirit.This remarkable aristocratic woman now lived aChristian life. As a Christian woman she got a significantposition in the life of the Church as well as for the culturallife. This was especially true concerning higher education.It was about this woman that the medical doctor JohnCoakley Lettsom, said, that she showed in her way of lifethe highest degree of Christian behaviour, that he had everobserved.AS A WIDOW SHE STARTEDMISSION WORK IN WALESLady Selina became a widow in 1746. She wasthen 39 years of age. She now withdrew from the extensivesocial work that she and the count were engaged in. All herenergy was now transferred to the evangelical revivals,which swept like a wave through England. She saw bigpossibilities on all cultural fields in the new revival work.A great deal of Lady Huntingdon´ s work wasconcentrated to Wales, England and to Scotland in closeconnection to George Whitefield´ s preaching work. Shesponsored his work by appointing him as Chaplain at hermanor. Every one knew that Lady Selina was attracted tothe Calvinistic preaching of George Whitefield more thanthe Arminian ideas of John Wesley. Wesley did not bothertoo much about this; because George Whitefield had oneconfession as he at the same time preached an other faith.The reason for George Whitefield` s teaching ofpredestination was founded on his experience. That he who93

was born in a pub should be accepted for studies at Oxfordhad to be predestination.Lady Huntingdon started her first preaching tourin Wales. Her work was called a travel of mission. Thishappened in May 17448. She had with her two daughtersElizabeth and Selina as well as her two sisters in law; LadyAnne and Lady Frances Hastings for company. On theborder to Wales she was met by a group of preachers fromWales. The evangelical caravan travelled through a greatmany towns where they stopped for preaching several timesa day.At the start of her spiritual activity she had a closecontact with the Wesley brothers. This is confirmed both bythe letters of Wesley as well as in his Journals. Lady SelinaHuntingdon asked for advise from John Wesley onTheological questions. One example is her letter of 23 rd ofOctober 1741. The problem was concerning “The quite”.This was concerning the Quakers, and in the letter shediscussed theological questions with Wesley.The countess was host for the first MethodistConference in June 1744, which was held in her house inLondon. Here John Wesley spoke about: “what God hasdone”.Lady Selina was a friend of the Wesley-familyduring her lifetime. She cared personally for CharlesWesley´ s wife Sally, when she had chicken pox.LADY SELINA BUILT CHAPELS ANDAPPOINTS PRIESTS TO PREACHERSLady Huntingdon appointed George Whitefield to94

her personal Chaplain at her Manor. She now started withregular Divine Services in her home. She took part inbuilding Chapels round about in England. It is told thatwhen she built the Chapel in Brighton 1760, she sold herjewels to finance the building. Sometimes she gotcontribution to the building of Chapels with money localgroups had collected. She kept only a few of the 64 Chapel,which she built, as her personal property.She opened new Chapels throughout the Country,but her most famous Chapel was in the health resort Bath.Both Wesley and Whitefield preached here.According to the letters of Wesley from June1743, it was Lady Huntingdon who got Wesley to preachfor the miners near Newcastle.Lady Huntingdon built 64 Chapels during herlifetime, as mentioned above, and she appointed preacherswho agreed to cooperate with her. She needed morepreachers, and for this reason she founded TreveccaCollege 1768. The College was located in South Wales.She rented an old manor for this purpose. The Estate hadenough buildings for a College with a boarding School. TheSchool opened on Lady Selina´ s 61 st birthday. For theopening the Welsh author of hymns William Williams hadwritten his most famous hymn: “Guild me, O Thou GreatJehovah”. One of his hymns are included in the newSwedish hymnbook number 298.George Whitefield was the preacher for the day.John Wesley was not present at the opening ceremony, buthe came later. One can read about this in his Journals. Inhis Journals there is also a picture of the manor and theCollege Trevecca.95

The vicar Rev. John Fletcher from Madeley, aMethodist saint, was the first inspector for TreveccaCollege. He served without any salary. It is interesting toknow that Lady Huntingdon gave the students free tuition.She also paid the students costs in connection with theirstudies. She also gave the students a new suit every year.When the students had graduated they were free to serve inany protestant Church that they themselves chose.John Wesley came into contact with LadyHuntingdon at an early stage. In his Journals we can readthat he was on his first inspection tour to the Midlands afterhis evangelical conversion. This was in the beginning ofJune 1741. This journey he made after an invitation fromLady Huntingdon. She was very pious after her conversion.Wesley visited her also 15 th of April 1741 at Enfield Chasewhere they had tea and spiritual conversation.WESLEY VISITS WALESAND TREVECCA COLLEGEJohn Wesley was also in Wales, and according tohis Journals he visited Trevecca twelve year before LadyHuntingdon rented the Manor. This was Friday the 19 th ofMarch 1756.At the first years celebration for Trevecca College,which coincided with Lady Huntingdon´ s birthday Wesleypreached. John Wesley administered the Lords Supper forthe family on the morning of 24 th of August 1762, and at 10O´ clock John Fletcher preached. The Chapel was toosmall, so the Divine Service was conducted in the yard.William Williams from Pantycelyn spoke in Welsh.96

Already at 3 O´ clock Wesley and Fletcher spoke until 5 O´Clock. Between 7 and 8 O´ clock began “the love feast withthe love meal”. This was just one day at Trevecca Collegewith a full program.Wesley stayed at “Trevecca Farmhouse” duringhis stay at Trevecca College. Wesley, who had been aFellow and lecturer at Lincoln College, Oxford, wasworried over the curriculum at Trevecca College. TheSeminar had near contact with the revival in Wales wherethe leaders were Howard Harries, David Rowlands,William Williams, Walter Shirley and John Fletcher. Thelatter, who was university educated, was completelyaccepted as a teacher by John Wesley.CHESHUNT COLLEGE NOW IN CAMBRIDGEThe year after Lady Selina Huntingdon´ s death1772, Travecca College moved to Cheshunt, near London.Travecca College had at that time been in operation for 24years. The College now changed its name to CheshuntCollege, and was located here for 113 years up to 1905when it moved to Cambridge University. It has alreadybeen there for 98 years.It was in Cambridge that I came in contact withCheshunt College, as I mentioned in the beginning of thiswork. The buildings of the College were now owned by theFree Masons, but the spiritual and intellectual College,which is Congregational in theology, continues itsexistence in the Presbyterian Westminster College. It washere in the large teaching hall on the second floor that Idiscovered large paintings of count and countess of97

Huntingdon. The countess was more at home with thePresbyterians or Calvinistic movement, which wasrepresented by George Whitefield, than with theMethodists. There came a break between John Wesley andLady Huntingdon in 1770. She thought that John Wesleyunderlined work more than faith. Wesley was, however, theapostle of free grace, who underlined faith as thefoundation for the Christian life. Twenty years later theoppositions had toned down, and Lady Huntingdon spokenow of John Wesley with appreciation.Lady Selina had worries about her administrationas part of the revival that stood under her protection.George Whitefield had started a School in Savannah,Georgia, America. When he died 1770, Lady Selina had totake over the work in the colony of Georgia. She sent agroup of former students from Trevecca College on anevangelical mission to Georgia. That year in 1784 shecorresponded with her relative George Washington aboutstarting a mission School in Georgia, but her dream was notfulfilled.THE COUNTESS BREAKSWITH THE ANGLICAN CHURCHA break with the Anglican Church came in 1779.Lady Selina bought an entertainment Centre in London,and she transformed the Centre to a spiritual Forum, sheherself appointed preachers to the Centre. The AnglicanPriest in the District opposed her action; because he aloneshould have the right to appoint preachers and control thework. The countess left the Anglican state Church, and98

ecame a dissenter or Free Church Christian. This meant anew spiritual fellowship with the Methodists.Lady Huntingdon´ s dream of a spiritual colony inAmerica was dashed, but her name lived on in America;because 1854 the Huntingdon College was founded inMontgomery, Alabama. This is a College that belong to theUnited Methodist Church. This College has both men andwomen students to a number of about 1.000 and around 60professors.The words that Lady Huntingdon said when sheleft the Anglican Church, can stand as a motto over thisactive Christian preacher woman who lived 250 yearsbefore we officially got women ministers in NorthernEurope.“My faith urges me to goon forward without fear or doubt.”Lady Selina was a courageous Christian woman.She is an example to be followed.When Lady Selina lay on her deathbed 1791 shehad written her testament with the consent of her family. Inher testament she left her possessions and her properties toChristian and Educational purposes.With her active background in our thoughts, it ismay be, nothing to wonder about that she could say justbefore she died:“My work is done. I have nothingmore to do, but to go to my Father.”99

This was an 84 years old woman who said thesewords full of faith.WOMEN´ S CONTINUED INTERESTIN JOHN WESLEYIt is interesting to observe that the three Wesleybiographers, who specially have been referred to in thiswork have been women apart from Bishop McConnell. Ithas been especially John Wesley´ s love story and hiscontacts with women that these women have beenconcerned with. The three authors that I referred to andtheir books are:Laura Petri, John Wesley,G. Elsie Harrison, Son to Susanna, andMarjorie Bowen, Wrestling Jacob.I was about to forget Rebecca Lamar Harmon, theBishops wife, who wrote an interesting little book with thefollowing title: Susanna Mother of The Wesley´ s”.Here we have four women who have beenoccupied with research in Wesley literature. In addition tothese women there are many men who have written aboutJohn Wesley. I have a thick catalogue over Wesleyliteraturethat Duke University, North Carolina, hascompiled. The catalogue shows that the Wesley-literaturebelongs to the great domain of research in the Englishlanguage.I discussed Wesley with my wife Patricia, and Iwondered why women were so interested in John Wesley,who was unsuccessful in his marriage relation to women.She answered that what is unattainable is always100

interesting. It can be a lot of truth in this observation, butthere still seems to be a great interest for John Wesley even300 years after his birth and 265 years after his spiritualexperience in Alders Gate Street.I have myself not been so interested in thebiographical part pf Wesley, rather the problem orientedand systematic theological field as well as the philosophicaland logical studies. I must also mention the philosophy ofreligion as my field of Wesley-studies. I have also written amanuscript about John Wesley´ s systematic theology withthe title: “Rider with Love and Holiness”. In this work Itries to give a panorama picture of Wesley´ s theology,ethics and practical theology. My manuscripts are to befound in the United Methodist Library and Archives, DrewUniversity, Madison, New Jersey.There seems to be different interest fields amongmen and women even in Wesley- research. It is possible thatthe man psych is more interested in the theoretical andintellectual field while the woman psych is more interestedin the practical and the human relations that appear in thehistorical and biographical works.In John Wesley´ s Journals volume I, I saw apicture montage in three parts.At the top was a picture of the Parsonage inEpworth, which was called “The Rectory”. The Parsonagehas been bought by the Methodist Church, and is one of theHoly Places of the Methodist Church.In the middle are two pictures in round frames. Tothe left is a picture of the rector Samuel Wesley and to theright is a picture of Susanna Wesley. She is also lookingtowards the centre.101

At the bottom of the montage is a picture of theEpworth Churchyard seen from the west door. SamuelWesley was buried here. When the Church doors wereclosed for John Wesley, than he gave one of his famousopen air sermons from his fathers grave. Nobody coulddeny him to preach from his father´ s grave as it wasprivate property. It can be added that many people came tolisten to John Wesley, who had been a substitute for hisfather when Samuel Wesley was vicar here and JohnWesley was a Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.IN THE CENTRE OF THE CIRCLEOn the title page of this work in the Swedishlanguage I have drawn a cross like a Maltese cross onlythat the wings are broader. In the centre of the cross I haveplaced a copy of a portrait of John Wesley painted by theartist John Jackson, R. A. (1778-1831). The painting is tobe found in “The World Methodist Building, LakeJunaluska, North Carolina, USA ”.On the left wing beside the picture of John Wesleyare written the names of his seven sisters: Emilia, Susanna(Sulky), Mary, Mehetabel (Hetty), Ann, Martha andKezziah.On the right wing is written the name of sixwomen who were found round John Wesley and whomeant a lot to him in his work. They were: Betty, Sophy,Grace, Molly, Sarah and Laura. Two of the women werenot contemporary with him, but have through studies of hislife had a love for him and his teaching.102

Above John Wesley´ s picture in the top wingof the cross I have placed a picture of his mother SusannaWesley, and at the bottom wing of the cross under hispicture I have placed a picture of Lady Selina countess ofHuntingdon. These two strong women played a great partin the life and work of John Wesley.I have read through John Wesley´ s Journals andthere are pictures of 51 men and 11 women in the eightvolumes.He has written under the portrait of the fourwomen in the Journals: “Elect Ladies of Early Methodism”.The four women are:1. Elisabeth Ritchie (Mrs. Mortimeer).2. Mary Bosanquet (Mrs. Fletcher).3. Sophia Cooks (Mrs. Bradbury), and4. Hester Ann Roe (Mrs. James Rogers).I should mention that there are 14 men and4 women in a family picture gathered around JohnWesley on his death - bed. This picture is to be found inJournal volume VIII. The women who are in this pictureare the following: Miss Sarah Wesley, daughter to CharlesWesley; Mrs. Charles Wesley; Hester Ann Rogers; she waswife to James Rogers, who was counted as one of the saintsof Methodism. We see furthermore Elisabeth Ritchie whobecame Mrs. Mortimer, she stayed with John Wesley thelast winter he was alive.One more picture that I have included in theSwedish manuscript is “The House of Lords in Wesley´ sDay”. That I have included this picture is because the orderof the higher Priesthood had its place in the House of103

Lords. It was only a selection of the Priests with the highestordination that had their seats in this shining Congregation.The picture is in Journal, vol. VI, page 47.There are some important pictures from JohnWesley´ s life that ought to be included in this work even ifthis is not a biographical work of John Wesley and hisfamily, so can it be of interest to include some notes thatmay be can lead to that one will seek further in theliterature after more knowledge in the subject.TRADITION FROM THE FATHERSLet us start with Dr. Samuel Annesley, father ofSusanna Wesley. She was her fathers 25 th child, and theyoungest and last of his children. It was said that Dr.Annesley had received his appointment in St. Giles´,Crippelgate, through Oliver Cromwell, while other sourcessay that it was through Richard Cromwell. Dr. Annesleywas nephew to the “The Earl of Anglesea”. He wasbaptized at Hesseley near Warwik. One believes that hewas also born there. He was educated in Puritanism.He was ordered to be silent for ten years throughthe law of Restoration. In the year 1672, however, hereceived the permission to open a meetinghouse in Little St.Hellen´ s where he had a very important pastoral work.Dr. Annesley married twice. His first wife diedearly. His second marriage was with the daughter to thefamous lawyer John White. He was a member of “TheLong Parliament of 1640”, where he represented the districtof Southwork. This famous lawyer, who took part in theChurch fights at that time, was father to Susanna´ s mother.104

It is interesting to know that contemporary withthe lawyer John White was the rev. John White, who wasknown as the Patriarch of Dorchester. The Priests daughterbecame the mother to Samuel Wesley. The Priest JohnWhite and the lawyer John White were both members of“The Westminster Assembly of Divines”. It is remarkablethat both the mother of Samuel Wesley and to SusannaWesley had the same name, one was a lawyer and the otherwas a Priest. Both men were famous in their differentspecialities; the one in the Gospel and the other in law.They both had leading positions in society; the one in theChurch and the other in the service of the State. They wereboth firm in their religious principles.Dr. Samuel Annesley was driven to become a FreeChurch Minister. In his Chapel in Little St. Helen´ s thefirst Free Church Service of ordination was held after theRestoration. At this service seven young men wereordained Ministers for the service in the Church. Dr.Annesley, the Editor Matthew Sylvester and founder ofLibraries Dr. Williams took part in the ordination. It wasDr. Williams who gave the speech at the burial of Dr.Annesley, who died 1696 at the age of 76 years.THE FREE CHURCHTRADITION CONTINUESDr. Calamy was one of the seven candidates whowas ordained in Little St. Helen´ s. It is interesting to knowthat Daniel Defoe´ s both parents attended the meetings inthe Chapel. The author to the book about Robinson Crusoewrote afterwards about the Minister in the Chapel:105

“The sacred bow he so divinelydrew, That every shot both hitand overthrew”.It has been shown that there is an historicalbackground of interest in the Wesley-boys and girls lifehistory. There are historical contacts both with nobility,learned men and women as well as with ordinary people;farmers and workers and other honest people.We have also been able to learn about the shadyside of society, and seen how people in debt in Londonwere taken out of prisons and was given freedom in thestate of Georgia, America, instead of continuing aseconomic criminals in England.Religion is not only “Opium for People” as therev. Charles Kingsley said, but also an elevating force fornew hope and new life for people.Charles Kingsley said the famous words about themissionaries and martyrs that religion functioned as opium,so they did not feel the pain they had to go through. WhenLenin studied at The British Museum he read the words ofCharles Kingsley and used the word in connection with therevolution. He put a new meaning into the words. For himreligion was opium so that the people did not see thatrevolution was for their best.FINISHING WORDSIt has been interesting to work with this material. Ifirst wrote about John Wesley and the women he metoutside his home, but then I discovered that he had in his106

home seven sisters and his mother who was anextraordinary woman for her time.His father had furthermore put his stamp on life inthe Parsonage, so that without knowledge of SamuelWesley, Sr., the whole study would be meaningless.Because of this fact I have had to say something about him.There was some behaviour of the people in thiswork that would be meaningless without some knowledgeof the culture and the place of woman in society.Knowledge of the infrastructure in England at that timegave a bit more light over the behaviour of people and thelife they lived.In this way this manuscript grew out from theoriginal thought of a small address about Wesley and thewomen around him, and now I see that what I haveproduced is only a drop in the cultural sea, as one see thework in connection with the enormous material that existsabout the Wesley family. There are also many questionsthat I have not found answers to.What surprised me is the enormous interest thereis in the subject Wesley and the women in his life.I attended the Methodist Annual Conference inVetlanda, Sweden, 1988. The Conference was in sessionfrom 16 th to 19 th of June. I met many people here that hadheard about my work with Wesley and the women. I had tostand there in the heat of the sun and answer manyquestions.One elderly Methodist woman came and said tome: “Why cannot these questions be presented at specialtalks at the Conference, like morning devotions at the107

Conference; because we do not get any information withregard to these interesting questions?”I could only in the name of honesty answer: “Idon’t know”.108

INTRODUCING THE AUTHORDr. Arne-Jacob Kristoffersen graduated with theartium degree, AA, Associate of Arts, at Harstad JuniorCollege, Harstad, Norway. He received mercantileeducation from Johansen´ s Handelsskole, Harstad.Graduated with Diploma in Theology, honoursdegree, from the Union Methodist Theological Seminaryfor Scandinavia and Finland, Överås, Gothenburg, Sweden.The same year he took his oral and written examfor the degree B. D., Bachelor of Divinity, at BurtonCollege & Seminary, Manitou Springs, Colorado. Amonghis tutors were Bishop Odd Hagen, who at that time wasPrincipal at the Theology Seminary, Gothenburg. Dr. FredE. Stemme, Dean at Burton College & Seminary, was alsoone of the tutors.In August 1954 the author defended his degree M.A., Master of Arts, at Emory University, Georgia, USA.During his stay at Emory University Dr. Kristoffersen tookpart in a Practical Educational Seminary for CollegeProfessors for two terms.In the year 1956 he took his degree Th. D., Doctorof Theology. The Doctors degree was given inPhilosophical Theology. The dissertation that was part ofthe examination had the title:109

“PERSONALISM – THE SOUNDESTPOSITION IN THEISM TODAYDr. Kristoffersen has further M.A. exam intheoretical Philosophy, Psychology and Education at theHumanistic Faculty, Royal University at Lund, Sweden.In December 1964 he graduated with TheologicalLicentiate degree at the Theological Faculty, University ofLund. His scientific dissertation in Philosophy of Religionwas:“BOSTON PHILOSOPHY”.Dr. Kristoffersen has also taken part in a practicalEducational Seminary in the Subject Christendom andPhilosophy at a Teachers Educational Seminary inVästerås, Sweden, where he taught at the Cathedral School,Rudbeckian College. The theoretical teachers course tookplace at the Teachers University, Linköping, Sweden.In June 1973 he received the Certificate inPastoral Theology at Cambridge Theological Colleges,Cambridge University. He was member of FizwilliamCollege and Wesley House, and had the status of Master ofArts during 1972 -73, this was printed in The CambridgeReporter. His dissertation at Cambridge was:“HOLY LAND FOR THREE RELIGIONS”Dr. Kristoffersen has served as Chaplain at AirCommando East, Norway. He has served as SummerMinister at Christ Methodist Church, Helsingfors, Finland.110

He has served as Methodist Minister in Elverum, Norway,Svartå - Åtorp, Sweden, as well as Härnösand, Sweden.In education Dr. Kristoffersen has taught in theCentral School, Svartå, and at Higher Technical College,Härnösand as well as Chairman of the Department ofChristendom and Philosophy at the College in Älmhult,Sweden.From the autumn of 1962 he was Chairman of theDepartment of Christendom and Philosophy at the College,St. Eskil in Eskilstuna, Sweden.The Royal Board of Education in Stockholmappointed Dr. Kristoffersen 1/7 1965 as Lecturer inChristendom and Philosophy at the College in Ulricehamn,Sweden. From 1970 he was transferred to Tingsholmsgymnasiet, Ulricehamn, where he was Chairman of theDepartment of Religion, Philosophy and Psychology.Dr. Kristoffersen has also taught at the UnionMethodist Theological Seminary, Gothenburg. He wastutor at the Theological Seminary in the following subjectsand courses:1974-75: Philosophy of Religion.Autumn- 75: Christian History of Ideas.Spring- 76: Course III, Church History.Autumn- 77: Philosophy of Religion.1976- 77: Child- and Youth Psychology.1993- 94: The History of Ideas inWestern Countries.Dr. Kristoffersen has served as Ethical consultantat Lindängen Treatment Centre, Ulricehamn, for alcoholicsand drug addicts, receiving treatment according to the AA-111

method. Dr. Kristoffersen was responsible for the fifth step,and he worked at the Institution from 1987 to 1990. Everyone of the 310 patients he treated had 2½ hours treatmentaccording to the fifth step.Dr. Kristoffersen was ordained Deacon 1955 inFlekkefjord, Norway, and as an Elder 1957 in Härnösand,Sweden. Both ordinations took place in the MethodistChurch. In Flekkefjord the Deacon ordination was byBishop Odd Hagen alone. In Härnösand at the ordination ofElder Bishop Hagen was assisted by DistrictSuperintendent Gösta Rosenqvist and the rev. Dr. Carl ErikBrattemo and the rev. Per Erik Lager.112

CONTENTSIntroduction………………………..…………….p. 2The twelve persons at Epworth………………….” 3The parents and the family………………………” 3Infrastructure in the culture……………………..” 5The order of the Priests…………………………” 6Samuel Wesley – an unusual Priest…………….” 8The Wesley women and the women now………” 9Then and now…………………………………..” 10Women´ s Colleges…………………………….” 11Women´ s College in the Parsonage…………..” 12Background……………………………………” 13Samuel Wesley, Sr. (1662- 1735) …………....” 14Oxford student…………………………………” 15From South Ormsby to Epworth.……………..” 16Member of a youth movement………………..” 17Literary activity……………………………….” 18The Patriarchal system………………………..” 18The oldest son was lecturer at Westminster…..” 20The women around John Wesley at home……” 21Susanna Wesley the mother of Methodism(1669- 1742) A mother in Israel………………” 22The Free Church tradition……………………..” 22Susanna as pedagogue…………………………” 23The girls are equal with the boys inSusanna´ s College in Epworth………………..” 25Susanna Wesley as a theologian………………” 26An active life is closed………………………..” 27The Wesley girl; Emilia (1692- 1771)………..” 28113

She was critical against her father,But was a great help for the family……………p. 29In love with Leybourne……………………….” 30Governess in Lincoln…………………………” 30In love with a medical doctor………………...” 31Marries the chemist Harper………………….” 32Susanna (1695- 1764)……………………….” 33Sulky marries Richard Ellison………………” 34Susanna or Sulky had got enough…………..” 34John Wesley gave Susanna orSulky maintenance………………………….” 35Mary (1696 – 1734).………………………..” 36Disable person………………………………” 36Molly was Hetty´ s friend…………………..” 37Mary was happy in her marriage……………” 37Mehetabel or Hetty (1697-1750)……………” 38Born in the wrong Century………………….” 39To be beautiful………………………………” 40The first proposal……………………………” 41The second proposal……………………….. “ 41Ran away to get married…………………… “ 41Returned home in defeat….………………. .“ 43The feelings conquer reason….……………” 44A good beginning…………………………..” 45Samuel Wesley the Job of his time…………” 46John Wesley preached reconciliation……….” 47Writes her problems in poetry………………” 48Children do not heal broken marriages...……” 49She believes in being cursed………………...” 50Father and daughter are still a longway away from each other…………………..” 52114

Brother Samuel junior is helping………… … p. 53Hetty´ s social contacts……………………… ” 53Susanna renews contacts with Hetty……..……” 54Alone and tired…………………………………” 56To die in happiness……………………………..” 56Ann or Nancy (1702----)……………………….” 56Married to John Lambert………………………” 57From Epworth to Hatfield……………………..” 57Martha (1706 – 1791)…………………………” 58Martha a serious girl…………………………..” 59Small love affairs……………………………..” 59Patty in London………………………………” 60Many who proposed to Martha………………” 61The right nature of Westley Hall…………….” 62Martha moves to London…………………….” 62Contact with Dr. Samuel Johnson……………” 63Martha dies and is laid in the samegrave as her brother John…………………….” 65Kezziah (1709- 1741)………………………..” 66Kezziah changes to Kezzey…………………..” 67She moves to London………………………..” 68The relation between Charles andKezzy was very good………………………..” 69The women around John Wesley.…………...” 70Biographies of John Wesley…………………” 70A woman lecturer in Swedenin love with John Wesley……………………” 71Meeting Sophy Hopkey atEmory University, Atlanta, Georgia……….. “ 72115

John Wesley went from an OxfordDon to a missionary among redIndians in Georgia………………………………p. 72Wesley´ s mission romanticism…………………” 74Cultures and Classes collides…………………...” 74The worlds greatest love stories…………………” 75John Wesley and Sophy Hopkey………………..” 75John Wesley marry………………………………” 79Every one fall in love with John Wesley.………..” 80John Wesley and Grace Murry…………..………” 80John Wesley marries withoutpermission from Charles…………………………” 82Why John Wesley writes letters to Molly...……..” 83Molly was jealous over thewomen John counselled………………………….” 85Unpleasant conversation at the dinner- table…….” 86Studies at Cambridge…………………………….” 88Lady Selina, Countess ofHuntingdon (1707-1791)………………………...” 90Born in a noble family…………………………...” 91The revival is spreading throughChristian witness….……………………………..” 92As a widow she started mission work in Wales... “ 93Lady Selina builds Chapels andappoints Priests to Preachers…...………………..” 94Wesley visits Wales and Trevecca College...……” 96Cheshunt College now in Cambridge……...…….” 97The countess breaks with the Anglican Church….” 98Women´ s continued interest in John Wesley……” 100In the centre of the circle……………………… ” 102Tradition from the fathers……………………….” 104116

The Church tradition continues……………….p. 105Finishing words……………………………….” 106Introducing the author………………………...” 109117