Wesley Corpus

“Wed. February 1.--Mr. Charles Wesley came to Birmingham, and the next day preached at Wednesbury. The whole congregation was quiet and attentive, nor had we any noise or interruption. Mon. 6.--I accompanied him part of his way, and in the afternoon came back to Wednesbury. I found the society met together, and commending themselves to God in prayer, having been informed that many, both at Darlaston and other places, had bound themselves by an oath, to come on Shrove a ee Feb. 1744.] REV. J. WESLEY’s JOURNAL. 307 Tuesday, (the next day,) and plunder all the Methodists in Wednesbury. We continued in prayer till the evening. I desired as many as could, to meet me again at eight in the morning. But I had scarce hegun to speak, when one came running with all speed, and told us, a large mob was coming into the town, and had broke into some houses already. I immediately retired to my father’s house; but he did not dare to receive me. Nor did any one else; till at length Henry Parks took me in; whence, early in the morning, I went to Birmingham. “The mob had been gathering all Monday night, and on Tuesday morning they began their work. They assaulted, one after another, all the houses of those who were called Methodists. They first broke all their windows, suffering neither glass, lead, nor frames to remain therein. ‘Then they made their way in; and all the tables, chairs, chests of drawers, with whatever was not easily removable, they dashed in pieces, particularly shop goods, and furniture of every kind. What they could not well break, as feather beds, they cut in pieces, and strewed about the room. William Sitch’s wife was lying-in: but that was all one; they pulled away her bed too, and cut it in pieces.” (Had the French come in that place, would they have done more ?) “ All this time none offered to resist them. Indeed most part, both men and women, fled for their lives; only the children stayed, not knowing whither to go.