Bust

It is two centuries since Lincoln College, Oxford, performed its classic paradox. Founded to combat Lollardry in 1427, it unwittingly fostered a far greater popular schism in the Church by conferring, in 1726, a fellowship upon a young deacon named John Wesley. To such good purpose did the young deacon put the freedom thus afforded him that Lincoln College was not so much honoring as honored when, on the bicentennial of his admission, it lately unveiled in its court a bust of John Wesley, founder of the largest* religious denomination that has grown up in the last 200 years--Methodism.

The bust is placed outside a room where, 200 years ago, the midnight taper burned late, often and with great regularity. Young John Wesley, though "gay and sprightly, with a turn for wit and humor," was imbued with a deep purpose, and to accomplish it he systematized his living, and his friends' living, most strictly. They slept, ate, studied and discussed their aims on a time schedule so business-like that it drew upon them the ridicule of their irresponsible fellow Lincolnians. "Bible Bigots," they were called, "The Holy Club," and, for their ordered habits, "Methodists."

Undismayed, John Wesley and his "Methodists" went into the towns, the prisons, the open fields, stirring the stagnancy of the church of the day with a living word. Their word was Church of England, until opposition moved Wesley to ordain his own ministers and proclaim his personal interpretation of the creed. His followers have divided and sub- divided among themselves since, but on administrative issues only. Tens of millions of living souls--Wesleyans, Methodists and the dozen or so sects articulated specially in different times and climes--all revere the one man, the young deacon who followed his youth's vision until his death, full of grace, at 87.

* Joseph Smith's Latter Day Saints (Mormons) today number but 625,160 in the U. S. Of Mary Baker Glover Eddy's Christian Science Churches in the U. S. there are 1,879. In the U. S. alone there are over 9,000,000 Methodists, Wesleyans, etc.