The Epworth Phenomena | Page 7

as ultra-Podmorean, and is, in Dr Fitchett's
opinion, "an explanation which respect for a great name need not
prevent any one from calling childish."
John Wesley, however, cannot be claimed as a scientific investigator or
observer. His attitude frequently borders on the credulous, and his
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