Antinomianism: (Gr. anti, against; nomos, law) shor

lived doctrine that faith in Christ frees the

a certain few while others perish). Wesley stated that if God had already damned some and saved others, then all preach- ing is in vain and what one does makes no difference. He quoted the Bible to support his belief that Christ offered sal- vation to all and that man has the power to respond to or resist the spirit.7

The Methodist societies in England started to acquire property and Wesley had travelling preach- ers but they were not able to administer the sacra- ments. They preached, often out of doors, to the class of people not welcomed in the churches. Even

though he was not a bishop, Wesley ordained bishops

t

Christian from obliga- for Scotland, Newfoundland, Antigua, Nova Scotia, non to observe the the West Indies, and England. While the formal moral law as set forth break with Anglicanism did not come until 1795 in

in the Old Testament. (Funk and I’Vagnalls New

Encyclopedia, Book 2,

20

England, the movement was referred to as the Methodist Church as early as 1759.8

The last fifty years of his life, Wesley travelled over 250,000 miles, mainly by horse, and delivered 40,000 sermons. By the time of his death, he had 80,000 fol- lowers in England with 1,300 local and itinerant preachers. There were 60,000 followers in America with 200 preachers. The success of the Methodist movement is credited to good organization, a system of lay preachers, warm fellowship, per- sonal conversion, fervent preaching, and hymn singing? The Methodist believed in social justice, equality for women, and education.

p.196.)

METHODISM ON PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

he founder of the Methodist tradition on Prince Edward

Island was a young wheelwright who immigrated from London, England. Benjamin Chappell, facing high unemploy- ment rates in his native land, arrived in the New London set- tlement of Robert Clark in 1774.10 Chappell had been exposed to the Wesleyan revival in London and was a dedicated fol- lower. He began, as a lay preacher, to spread the Methodist word among the people of New London and surrounding areas. He encouraged the new settlers to live a productive,

LOT 16 UNITED CHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE