AUGUST 1737
August 1737
Wesley's Warming Journey
By Brenda Rees © All Rights Reserved
August 1737 and August 1736 were rough months for John Wesley. While in Frederica in August 1736, Wesley fought for his life when Mrs. Hawkins attacked him with scissors and a gun. August 1737 finds Wesley fighting for his reputation and brings a warrant for his arrest which hastens his departure from Savannah Tybee Island in 1736 eventually through his warming at Aldersgate back in London
SIXTH SAVANNAH
Picture of peaceful statue of John Wesley in Savannah
Monday, August 1, 1737 – Wesley talked with Spangenberg on journey to Ebenezer about, “the calm we had so long enjoyed was now drawing to an end ….”
Wednesday, August 3, 1737 – Wesley returns to Savanna.
Sunday, August 7, 1737 – An epic day for John Wesley. In his diary he wrote “10 ¼ Prayers, sermon. 11 ½ Eucharist, Miss Sophy repelled.” In his journal, Wesley wrote in more detail, “I repelled Mrs. Williamson from the Holy Communion [for the reasons specified in my letter of July 5, as well as for not giving me notice of her design to communicate after having intermitted it for some time. I foresaw the consequences well, but remembered the promise in the Epistle for the day, ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’”
Mrs. Burnside tried to get Mrs. Williamson (Miss Sophy) to talk to Wesley afterwards, but she said, “No, I will not show such a meanness of spirit as to speak to him about it myself, but somebody else shall.”
Monday, August 8, 1737 – Mr. Recorder issued a warrant from Savannah , Georgia
And bring him before one of the bailiffs of the said town, to answer the complaint of William Williamson and Sophia his wife, for defaming the said Sophia, and refusing to administer to her the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, in a public congregation, without cause; by which the said William Williamson is damaged one thousand pounds sterling: … .” Wesley went to a lovefeast with the Germans that evening.
Tuesday, August 9, 1737 – Wesley explained in his Journal, “I was apprehended by virtue of a warrant …. Mr. Williamson’s charge against me was: (1) that I had defamed his wife; (2) that I had causelessly repelled her from the Holy Communion. The first article I denied. As to the second, being purely ecclesiastical, I could not acknowledge their power to interrogate me….” Mr. Williamson wanted Wesley to pay bail, but he was let off with his word. Mr. Williamson then took out an advertisement that forbade anyone taking Wesley out of town. Wesley’s evening lesson was the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Wesley wrote, “Oh may I ever have respect unto the recompense of reward, and esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasurer of Egypt
Wednesday, August 10, 1737 – Mr. Causton attempted to have Wesley appear. Wesley did not. Wesley’s lesson for the day included, “Let us lay aside every weight, … and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Thursday, August 11, 1737 – Wesley noted that Causton came to house and used rough language and demanded he write his niece a letter. Wesley said he would and did ending with “when you have openly declared yourself to have truly repented, I will administer to you the mysteries of God.”
Friday, August 12, 1737 – Wesley wrote in his Journal that Causton was reading selected parts of letters he had written Miss Sophy from the beginning of their acquaintance. Wesley also wrote, “The rest of the family in the meantime were very industrious in convincing all they could speak to ’that Mr. Wesley had done this merely out of revenge because Sophy would not have him.’
Sunday, August 14, 1737 – More than usual showed up for this Sunday service
Monday, August 15, 1737 – Mr. Causton fired Mr. Burnside, who had been employed over two years by the Trustees, for not signing a certificate of charges he had written. Wesley also noted that Mr. Causton “employed his utmost power and art and application to prepare the persons who form the Grand Jury ….”
Tuesday, August 16, 1737 – Wesley feared that the “communicants” would be unduly influenced so read them an account of the case.
Saturday, August 17, 1737 – Wesley prayed for Mr. Causton and Miss Sophy, having spent the week waiting on the Grand Jury report.
Sunday, August 21, 1737 – “God gave us a day of rest,” Wesley wrote.
Monday, August 22, 1737 – The court met and Wesley was not pleased with the jury. He said, “Forty-four jurors were then sworn, a great majority of whom were well prepared for their work, either by previous application from Mr. Causton or by avowed enmity to me or to the Church of England. One was a Frenchman, who did not understand English, one a Papist, one a professed infidel, three Baptists, sixteen or seventeen other Dissenters; and several who had personal quarrels against me, and had openly vowed revenge.”
An affidavit and extensive list of grievances is detailed in the Journal.
Wesley wrote, “They examined Mrs. Williamson in the afternoon, and afterwards Mr. Causton, and Mrs. Causton on Tuesday Mrs. Williamson declared she had no objection at all to my behaviour before her marriage; Mr. Causton that he should not have denied, if I had ever asked his consent to marry her, and Mrs. Causton that it was at her request I wrote the letter to Mrs. Williamson of July 5.”
Wednesday, August 24, 1737 – Wesley noted the Grand Jury then addressed ecclesiastical grievances. He said Causton presented himself so poorly before them that they wanted to inquire into his conduct. Witnesses were examined for a time. Court was adjourned until September 1, 1737.
