July 1737

JULY  1737

July 1737 

Wesley's Warming Journey

By Brenda Rees © All Rights Reserved

July 1737  If you are new to this blog, consider starting with Introduction of 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 in 1738.

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, Selima, -- 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.  

SIXTH SAVANNAH JOURNAL cont.

Picture of ship sailing between Fort Clinch at Fernandina, Florida and Cumberland Island, once in Spanish Florida.   John Wesley provided pastoral care to the soldiers who patrolled on Cumberland Island.  Wild horses descended from those that roamed during Wesley’s time here in 1736 - 1737 can be seen across the St. Mary’s River, current border between Florida and Georgia.  Photograph by Brenda Rees ©

Friday, July 1, 1737 –  Wesley wrote of the ‘great heat’ and was busy with sickness and death.  He arose at four and had coffee at five o’clock.  Instead of dinner, Wesley had short nap.  At three, he had tea.  In between, he fulfilled an appointment and gave Mrs. Burnside a French lesson.

Sunday, July 3, 1737 – Fifty-five were present at Holy Communion and Wesley conversed with Miss Sophy or Mrs. Williamson.  Wesley wrote in his Journal this was the sixth conversation with Miss Sophy  He said the more he spoke the more angry she became.  Mr. Burnside advised Wesley he could not admit her to Holy Communion and to do his duty.

Monday, July 4, 1737 – Just another day in America at this time.  Mrs. Causton asked Wesley to write a letter to Miss Sophy.

Thursday, July 7, 1737 – Wesley wrote, “I was unawares engaged in a dispute with Dr. Nunes, a Jew, concerning the Messiah.  For this I was afterwards much grieved, lest the truth might suffer by my weak defence of it.”  Wesley noted ‘could not answer him.’

Saturday, July 9, 1737 –  Wesley meets with a Frenchman of New Orleans who had been a Chicasaw prisoner for several months.  Atrocities are related by both French and Chicasaws. The French had Nautchee Indians as slaves who rebelled.  Some Chicasaw Indians with this group were killed. The Frenchman’s description of the Chicasaws burning captives was particularly gruesome.  

Monday, July 11, 1737 – Mrs. Williamson (Miss Sophy) miscarried.  Mrs. Causton said it was because Wesley had chided her earlier.

Tuesday, July 12, 1737 – Wesley noted that “nine out of ten of the missionaries sent into America have died before the end of the fourth year.”  He added that most were not well spoken of by all men.

Sunday, July 17, 1737 – A rare criticism, Wesley wrote, “I had occasion to make a very unusual trial of the temper of Mr. Boltzius, pastor of the Saltzburghers, in which he behaved with such lowliness and meekness as became a disciple of Jesus Crist.”

Saturday, July 23, 1737 – Wesley still has a favorable enough impression of the area to consider inviting “poor and religious men or women of Epworth or Wroot could come over …” in a letter to his mother.  This will change.  Wesley also wrote in a letter to a friend, ‘How to attain to the being crucified with Christ, I find not; being in a condition which I neither desired nor expected in America – in ease and honour and abundance. A strange school for him who has but one business, ….’

Wednesday, July 27, 1737 – “I rejoiced to meet once more that good soldier of Jesus Christ, August Spangenberg,” Wesley wrote.

Saturday, July 30, 1737 – Wesley took a census.  “I began taking a more exact account of my parishioners by going from house to house.  By the best computation I can make, there are now in the town of Savannah five hundred and eighteen souls, one hundred and forty-nine of whom are under sixteen years of age.  About one hundred and eighty of the adults are, or are called, of the Church of England.” 

Sunday, July 31, 1737 – An extensive list is compiled by Wesley.  He said, “Having been long in doubt concerning the principles of the Moravian Brethren, At Mr. Spangenberg’s desire I proposed to them the following queries, to each of which is subjoined the substance of their answer.

“17. Are the ministrations of a man not episcopally ordained valid?

18. Does the wickedness of a man episcopally ordained make his ministrations invalid?

‘I dare neither affirm nor deny either of these questions universally.’”