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Methodism Books
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L. (Luke) Tyerman
The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)
"The Life and Times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., Founder of the Methodists" by Rev. L. Tyerman is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book chronicles the life and achievements of John Wesley, a significant figure in the founding of the Methodist movement. It explores Wesley's journeys, his challenges, and the impact of his work on religious society, particularly during tumultuous times. The opening of this detailed account introduces Wesley as he embarks on his endeavors in 1748, facing numerous dangers while traveling to spread his message. It provides vivid descriptions of his experiences, including near-fatal accidents, confrontations with hostile mobs, and the establishment of Methodist congregations in various locations. The text also highlights the support from his brother Charles and the expansion of the Methodist society in Ireland, despite facing severe persecution and opposition. Overall, the beginning sets the stage for a rich narrative filled with Wesley's struggles, triumphs, and his significant contributions to religious life in his era.
L. (Luke) Tyerman
The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 3 (of 3)
"The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists.…." by Rev. L. Tyerman is a historical biography written in the late 19th century. It chronicles John Wesley’s later years and the expansion of Methodism through his travels, letters, sermons, and conferences, highlighting disputes over Calvinism, Christian perfection, and adherence to the Church of England. Drawing on journals and correspondence, it shows how Wesley organized and financed the movement while extending its reach in Britain and abroad. The opening of the volume concentrates on 1768, tracing Wesley at 65 through conciliatory exchanges with Whitefield and Berridge, counsel to Lady Huntingdon, the sermon “The Good Steward,” and an energetic tour from Chatham to the North and into Scotland preaching to soldiers and vast crowds. It presents his belief in supernatural testimony (via the Sunderland apparition case), firm advocacy of Christian perfection without separating from the Church, and a stream of pointed letters (to Fletcher, his brother Charles, and critics like Thomas Adam). It prints his 1768 will and recounts the Bristol Conference—framed by his urgent dash to visit his ailing wife—which set policies on preachers trading, revived field and early-morning preaching, enforced discipline, fasting, and pastoral visitation. The narrative also touches overseas beginnings through Laurence Coughlan’s work in Newfoundland, the Oxford student expulsions and ensuing pamphlet war, and the opening of Lady Huntingdon’s Trevecca college. Throughout, decisions about chapels (such as retaining Spitalfields), burdensome debts, and even congregational singing reveal the practical strains of a rapidly growing movement.
L. (Luke) Tyerman
The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 1 (of 3)
"The Life and Times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., Founder of the Methodists" by Rev. L. Tyerman is a historical biography written in the late 19th century. This work aims to provide a comprehensive account of John Wesley’s life, focusing on his profound impact as a religious leader and the founder of Methodism during a time of significant religious reform. It explores not only the events of Wesley’s life but also the socio-religious context in which he operated, highlighting his importance in the broader history of Christianity. The opening of the biography introduces John Wesley's early life and formative years, detailing his birth in 1703 in Epworth, the challenges of his childhood—including a devastating fire that nearly took his life—and his educational journey at Charterhouse School and Oxford University. Tyerman emphasizes the influence of his parents, particularly his mother Susannah, on his early religious education and character development. Wesley’s serious disposition and initial struggles with faith as he grew older are noted, foreshadowing the internal conflicts he would later address in his life’s work. The groundwork laid in this opening section sets the stage for examining how Wesley transformed into a pivotal figure in Christianity, dedicated to spreading his message of salvation and reform.
L. (Luke) Tyerman
The Oxford Methodists : $b Memoirs of the Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Ingham, Gambold, Hervey, and Broughton, with biographical notices of others
"The Oxford Methodists: Memoirs of the Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Ingham, Gambold, Hervey, and Broughton" by Rev. L. Tyerman is a historical account published in the late 19th century. This work aims to document the lives and contributions of key figures in the early Methodist movement, particularly those associated with Oxford University. It highlights their religious fervor and social efforts during a significant revival period within the Christian Church. The opening of the book presents a preface by Tyerman, outlining his intention to showcase the religious revival in Oxford that led to the formation of Methodism, while acknowledging the broader impact beyond just the Wesley brothers. He emphasizes the importance of various contributors to this movement, such as John Clayton and Benjamin Ingham, illustrating their commitment to charity, education, and community service within their respective contexts. Through a combination of historical anecdotes and biographical sketches, Tyerman sets the stage for a deeper exploration of these influential Methodists and the principles that guided their endeavors.
Henry Boehm
The patriarch of one hundred years : $b being reminiscences, historical and biographical, of Rev. Henry Boehm
"The patriarch of one hundred years : being reminiscences, historical and…." by Rev. J. B. Wakeley, D.D. is a historical and biographical memoir written in the late 19th century. It presents the life and ministry of Rev. Henry Boehm, using his extensive journals to portray early American Methodism, its pioneers, revivals, and circuits, culminating in his centennial celebrations. Readers can expect vivid portraits of figures like Bishop Francis Asbury and accounts of frontier evangelism, camp-meetings, and the growth of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The opening of the volume lays out the project’s origin: Boehm explains in a preface that, urged by church leaders and aided by Wakeley, he shaped a massive journal into a narrative meant to preserve the spirit and facts of “primitive Methodism.” A table of contents promises a life told through circuits, conferences, and key personalities. The first chapters recount Boehm’s Swiss Mennonite ancestry, his father Martin’s conversion and eventual role with the United Brethren and Methodists, and Henry’s own upbringing, schooldays under a Hessian teacher, conversion in a mill loft, and the misstep of delaying church membership. He then sketches early preachers (notably Robert Strawbridge and the fiery Benjamin Abbott) and describes the building and influence of Boehm’s Chapel, where a revival led him to join the Church and become a class leader. Subsequent chapters narrate the General Conference of 1800 in Baltimore and the Philadelphia Conference at Duck Creek, both marked by powerful revivals and the election of Richard Whatcoat; the history of Barratt’s Chapel and Boehm’s vow of consecration during a bout of illness; and his early itinerant work on Dorchester and Annamessex Circuits, where sweeping awakenings among white and Black worshipers are punctuated by striking anecdotes (a preacher lost in the Cypress Swamp, a hawk dropping a fish for dinner). The extract closes as he moves to Kent Circuit, honors early lights like William Gill and John Smith, and visits the dying father of Shadrach Bostwick, pausing even to exhort a gathered roadside crowd when a house meeting is canceled.
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