John Wesley and the American Revolution

Besides his religious and social movement in eighteenth cen tury England, John Wesley had two major loyalties. One of these, the result of his experience in Georgia, aroused him to ac knowledge the spiritual needs of the colonists and the natives in America. other was the consequence of his education and early religious training, and influenced him in the development of his political ideas. The first principle of his political creed was loyalty to his king and his Church.1 Both of these loyalties were so intertwined with his religious life that he frequently could not clearly see the real facts; each colored his thinking and action. When the two divergent loyalties became involved in his leader ship of the Methodist movement, Wesley was torn as to which he should support. American Revolution was for him the testing ground. However, once his decision was made Wesley did not alter his support of the king and his policies, despite the severe criticism against him. conflict and misunderstanding over colonial policy between England and her American colonies had reached a breaking point by 1775. leaders in England and America had done a su perior job in inciting the people to recognize their ills and griev ances. On February 9. 1775, both houses of Parliament pre sented to King George III an address stating that the American colonists had risen in rebellion and begging him to take the most effective measures to enforce obedience to the laws and authority of the supreme legislature. king consented to Parliament's request for an increase in both the military and naval forces. One of the defenders of the policy of the king was not a member of the government but was the leader of the growing religious sect, the Methodist. He was John Weslev. who probably had the best knowledge of the social and economic thinking: in England because of his extensive travels and his talking and preaching to the people. Although seventy-two years of age in 1775, John Wesley was not one to avoid any quarrel which affected the re ligious, social, and economic life of his people or that cast any in

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• I fear God and honour the King

  Open Access•Allan Raymond, Allan R Raymond•Church History•1976

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