Georgetown's Second Founder by Antonio Grassi Roberto Severino

Author:Antonio Grassi, Roberto Severino [Antonio Grassi, Roberto Severino]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States, 19th Century
ISBN: 9781647120443
Publisher: Georgetown University Press
Published: 2021-08-03T04:00:00+00:00

THE METHODISTS

In about 1730 two Anglican preachers did with their church what their fathers had done without reason with the Catholic Church. Whitfield and Wesley separated from the Anglican Church, which they criticized openly as being fallen from its original purity, infected with error, and lacking in the spirit of God.10 The enthusiasm with which they preached won them many followers, particularly among the common people. As their lives were very methodical, these people came to be called Methodists. They kept many articles of the Anglican Church and also taught that true Christians were animated by the Spirit of God, who inspires and directs them to obey His bidding. Finally, they taught that deeds considered sinful by others were meritorious for Methodists, and they regarded themselves as the holy chosen ones, the only true Christians. They often talk of spirit, therefore, and attribute to it every type of oracle. The Methodist is convinced that he is in the grace of God, but why? Because the Spirit assures him of it. He says he will never go astray because the spirit gives him this assurance. It is impossible for him to suffer damnation because the Spirit promises him eternal salvation. Often, when meeting each other, they ask, “How is the spirit?” They sing hymns at the bedside of their sick to reinvigorate the spirit. They display much fellowship among themselves while disdaining all others, regarding them as unclean and sinful. This sect admits a type of public confession. Not long ago, during an assembly, a person confessed to having had illicit intercourse with a woman, naming this other guilty person, who was then present along with her parents.

No one is considered a true Methodist until he has made proselytes, and these are not admitted among the holy people until they have been converted. This conversion is very strange, and some learned people even believe that occasionally some malevolent, invisible entity intervenes. The man or woman (there are considerably more women than men among the Methodists) to be converted is led near the pulpit, on which the minister, wrapped in a black cloak, preaches and often screams, like a madman. All the most terrible aspects of a depiction of hell, demons, and Judgment are pronounced with a thundering voice. With great emphasis and in an unrestrained shout, he invokes Christ: “Here He is,” he screams, “Here He is, you see that He has come.” The Methodist bystanders cry out, repeating the minister’s words, “Here He is, here He is,” while some raise their arms or kneel, others prostrate themselves, and some fall to the floor. The preacher then comes down from the pulpit and, kneeling, continues to speak to Christ as if He were present, beseeching Him for the conversion of those present. A mixture of moans, shrieks, and cries resounds on every side. If, during all this, the new Methodist falls to the ground, they say the conversion has been performed. Then the mood completely changes: there is much applause, many hurrahs, shouts of joy rise up everywhere, and triumphant hymns are sung with fanatical enthusiasm.

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