April 1737

April  1737

April 1737 

Wesley's Warming Journey

By Brenda Rees © All Rights Reserved

(Edit typo: March to April on some of these entries.)

April 1737 gives John Wesley somewhat of a break from the drama of his relationship with Miss Sophy.  Enthusiastically, John Wesley spends more of his time investigating and pursuing how to save the souls of slaves and the “negroes” and learning Spanish from Dr. Nunez.  Read the complete diaries and Journal of John Wesley if time allows and available.   In addition, start with the introduction of this Wesley’s Warming Journey Blog and then each month from February 1736.  This blog carries you from Wesley’s landing at Tybee Island in 1736 eventually through to his warming at Aldersgate back in London.

Again, these events in Spanish Florida, also known as the Colony of Georgia, were shaping the heart and soul of John Wesley.  When Wesley said his heart was strangely warmed in England at Aldersgate in 1738, it wasn’t the first time he talked about the heat of his heart.  In a letter to one of his earlier women friends in 1730 Wesley wrote, “…Is it a fault to desire to recommend myself to those who so strongly recommend virtue to me?  Tell me, Aspasia, -- tell me, Selina, -- if it be a fault that my heart burns within me, when I reflect on the many marks of regard you have already shown.” Tyerman, Vol. 1, 1872, p. 77.  How older books treated this relationship is interesting.  Again, this gives reason why today’s reader might endeavor to read the entire Journal and Wesley’s extensive comments for themselves.  See my earlier blog entry about these early women friends of Wesley.  He was in a personal correspondence circle with these exceptional women and their letters reveal John Wesley’s early special relationship with women.

We continue to be indebted to the deciphering of Wesley’s journal and diaries by scholars in publications as early as 1909 and 1938.

SIXTH SAVANNAH JOURNAL

Picture of Early Spanish Mission.  The Spanish still claimed this part of Spanish Florida.  The Treaty of Madrid of 1670 between England and Spain set the border at 32/30 – up near Hilton Head, North Carolina.  Photograph by Brenda Rees ©

Sunday, April 3, 1737 – Wesley wrote, “This and every day in this great and holy week we had a sermon and the Holy Communion.”

Monday, April 4, 1737 – This day finds Wesley learning Spanish “in order to converse with my Jewish parishioners; some of whom seem nearer the mind that was in Christ than many of those who call Him Lord.”  Wesley had already learned how to read and translate and was now learning how to preach in Spanish.  Dr. Nunes, A Spanish Jew, was his teacher.  Spelling of Nunes by Curnoch.

Friday, April 8, 1737 –  This is Good Friday.  On this day, Miss Sophy dominates his Journal entry.  He tried to relay messages to Miss Sophy through Mr. and Mrs. Burnside.  Feeling that he was not having an effect, he spoke to Miss Sophy in person “under Mr. Causton’s shed.”  It was not a private conversation.  His advice was “controverted” and he repeated in his Journal, “I will avow before all the world, ‘In things of an indifferent nature you cannot be too obedient to your husband; but if his will should be contrary to the will of God, you are to obey God rather than man.’  It may be observed that this day, of her own free choice, she fasted till the evening.”  There is some concern in the colony about the Indians.

Sunday, April 10, 1737 – Paustoobee came on Easter Sunday and Tomochichi came the next day.

Tuesday, April 12, 1737 – Wesley is strong about rules being followed.  This time a preacher is not following procedure for weddings.  “Being determined, if possible, to put a stop to the proceedings of one in Carolina, who had married several of my parishioners without either banns or licence, and declared he would do so still, I set out in a sloop for Charlestown.”  He discussed this with the minister of Charlestown and the Bishop of London’s Commissary.

Friday, April 15, 1737 – Wesley is in Charleston.  He is busy visiting notables including a publisher.  Wesley makes an interesting comment about garden and grounds of a Mr. Guy.  He says it is the most pleasant place he has seen in America and reminds him of England.  Then he says most Americans are too lazy to raise such a garden.

Sunday, April 17, 1737 – Days in Charleston are spent with Rev. Charleston.  Wesley is pleased with him.

Tuesday, April 19, 1737 – Wesley tried to leave Charleston, but bad weather caused him to return.

Saturday, April  23, 1737 – Wesley learns his passage home by water is not possible, but Mr. Thompson, minister of St. Bartholomew’s, near Ponpon, offers him his horses. On this trip he meets a “negro” who “seemed more reasonable than the rest.”  Wesley questioned her about her faith.  After a long conversation with her, Wesley said, “The attention with which this poor creature listed to instruction is inexpressible.  The next day she remembered all, readily answered every question; and said she would ask Him that made her to show her how to be good.”

Sunday, April 24, 1737 – Wesley preached at Ponpon chapel.  He is impressed that many traveled “eight, ten, or twelve miles to hear the gospel.”

Wednesday, April 27, 1737 – Wesley is at Mr. Belinger’s plantation.  Rain keeps him there until Friday.  He meets a woman who had an Indian mother and a Spanish father.  Another said, “’When I lived at Ashley Ferry, I could go to church every Sunday, but here we are buried in the woods.  Though if there was any church within five or six miles, I am so lame I cannot walk, but I would crawl thither.’”

Wesley also noted, “And perhaps one of the easiest and shortest ways to instruct the American negroes in Christianity would be, first, to inquire after and find out some of the most serious of the planters.”

Saturday, April 30, 1737 – Wesley has taken a boat and arrives back in Savannah before noon.  He found his flock well.  He said, “Here I found my little flock in a better state than I could have expected.”