The Epworth Phenomena | Page 7

method of examination would certainly not have come up to the modern standard of a psychical researcher. Throughout his life he was invariably willing to give a ready ear and easy assent to any tale related to him concerning abnormal happenings, and he always sought the explanation for any mysterious phenomenon in the region of the Unknown. From the letters of his father and mother it will be readily seen that both believed in the active interference of spiritual beings in mundane matters, and all seemed to fear that the Epworth phenomena portended some evil that was likely to fall upon the father, seeing that he alone had not been disturbed by the ghost. When, later, the rector was also visited by the apparition, the family thought that the eldest son would be the victim.
John Wesley held many views which to-day would scarcely attract notice, but which in his time were regarded as peculiar. He believed in what is known as "the intermediate state," in the probability of a persistence of the life of animals after death, that as they had suffered in the reign of pain and death which it was believed man's sin had called into existence, so they should also share in the results of man's redemption. He believed in witchcraft, which was then a common belief, but which to-day would be regarded by the majority of people as a superstition. Five witches were executed at Northampton as recently as 1712, and one in Scotland in 1722. He also seems to have been ready to give credence to certain superstitious beliefs and omens. For instance, in the Journal for October 26, 1786, we read:-
"About two in the morning a dog began howling under our window in a most uncommon manner. We could not stop him by any means. Just then William B. died."
Wesley throughout his life held to the opinion that madness was caused frequently by demoniacal possession, and that he and those of his followers or disciples who maintained like faith with him could cast out devils and heal diseases, and he was fully persuaded that the paroxysms to which his hearers sometimes gave way were relieved by his prayers. He believed equally in the ministry of good angels and in the ability of both good and bad angels to communicate with mortals. "Certainly," he said, "it is as easy for a spirit to speak to our heart as for a man to speak to our ears." He not only attributed illnesses, diseases, and nightmares to diabolic agency, but also storms and earthquakes.
In the opinion of Canon Overton, Charles was a keener judge of character than John, and far less easily imposed upon. "He regarded with grave suspicion the physical convulsions which resulted from his brother's preaching, and when similar phenomena began to accompany his own, he took remarkably efficacious measures for testing their reality, and for putting a stop to them when he thought them unreal."
The account of phenomena occurring at Epworth Rectory is taken almost entirely from Southey's Life of Wesley, as this contains the fullest report, together with the whole of the published letters sent by members of the Wesley family. The accounts of the other phenomena are taken from the "Everyman" edition of The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley, A.M., in four volumes, published by J. M. Dent & Co.
DUDLEY WRIGHT.

THE EPWORTH PHENOMENA
While John Wesley was at school certain disturbances occurred in his father's house so unaccountable, that every person by whom they were witnessed believed them to be supernatural. At the latter end of the year 1715 the maid-servant was terrified by hearing at the dining-room door several dismal groans, as of a person at the point of death. The family gave little heed to her story, and endeavoured to laugh her out of her fears; but a few nights afterwards they began to hear strange knockings, usually three or four at a time, in different parts of the house: every person heard the noises except Mr. Wesley himself; and as, according to vulgar opinion, such sounds were not audible by the individual to whom they foreboded evil, they refrained from telling him, lest he should suppose that it betokened his own death, as they indeed all apprehended. At length, however, the disturbance became so great and so frequent that few or none of the family durst be alone, and Mrs. Wesley thought it better to inform her husband, for it was not possible that the matter could long be concealed from him; and, moreover, as she says, she was minded he should speak of it. The noises were now various as well as strange, loud rumblings above stairs or below; a clatter among a number of bottles, as if they had all at once been dashed to pieces; footsteps