WESLEY, JOHN

(1703-91), Eng. religious leader and founder of Wesley an ism; ed. Charter house and Oxford; ordained deacon, 1725, becoming fellow of Lincoln Coll., 1726. For some time he preached in parish churches near Oxford, but his spiritual power only developed gradually. In 1735 he and his bro. Charles went to Georgia and evangelized there. W. pub. his Collection of Psalms and Hymns, 1737. His intense conviction of the forgivene of his own sin took place at London, 1738. His theology was Arm in i an, not Calvin is tic. Gradually his work became separate from the Anglican Church. When he ordained, separation had already begun, though he had striven to avert it. His preaching, zeal, and his power of popular appeal were enormous. under MrrHopism.