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Article: The religion of feeling: Wesleyan Catholicism: a contradiction in terms?
- Article from:
- History Today
- Article date:
- October 1, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 History Today Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The first impression of one London tradesman who heard John Wesley preach in the decayed structure of the Old Foundery in 1740 was that he was a Papist, as he dwelt so much on the forgiveness of sins'. The rustic congregation which crowded into the parish church of Wensleydale, Yorkshire, in October 1743, were totally confused as to John Wesley's religious affiliations until one deeper learned than the rest, brought them all clearly over to his opinion that he [Wesley] was a presbyterian Papist'.
James Everett, one of the last of those Wesleyan preachers who actually met Wesley, reached the heart of the conundrum when he said of Wesley:
He was ...