Wesley Corpus

fiously. His brother was then officiating as curate to his father, and on his return had the satisfaction to find him following his steps. Hekept the church fasts, attended the daily prayers and weekly sacrament, observed the methods of study prescribed in the sta tutes of the university, and persuaded some of his young friends to do the same. The exact order in which (like John) he spent every hour procured him the name of Metho dist ; and it appears that Charles was the first on whom this title was conferred, though there were no regular meetings established till his brother returned from Epworth, to whom they unanimously committed the direction of their plan, and then began to spend some evenings in every week together in reading the Greek Testament and discoursing on religious sub jects. Some young students of other colleges requested to join them, amongst whom was the Rev. J. Harvey, and afterwards George Whitfield. Such singular piety naturally in curred the ridicule of their gay and thought xii less acquaintance ; but it was not till they visited the sick (though with the permission of the minister of the parish), the work houses, and prisons, set up a charity school, and devoted some portion of their time to instruct the ignorant poor, that it stirred up the opposition of all the irreligious and pro fane. ' Mr. Morgan of Christ-Church (son of an opulent Irish Gentleman) led the van in these benevolent acts. John Wesley, who wished to avoid giving offence by any need less irregularity, had consulted his father, who was remarkably attached to church order, stating what they had done, and what they proposed to continue ; who highly commen ded their conduct, especially their visits to the prison, but advised them to obtain the consent and direction of the Bishop of Ox ford, who, with the Vice-Chancellor, immedi ately expressed the warmest approbation of their active zeal. They now were branded as Enthusiasts, Sacramentarians, Reformers. John was entitled the Father ofthe Holy Club.