lA r South Carolina. 55 



appointment, he proceeded to Epworth to ask the ad- 

 vice of his mother; "for," said he, "I am the staff of 

 her age, her chief support and comfort " — and secretly 

 determined in his mind to receive her answer as the 

 call of Providence. " If I had twenty sons, I should 

 rejoice that they were all so employed, though I 

 should never see them again," was the response of 

 the noble woman, as soon as the matter was presented 

 and her counsel desired. He made known at once his 

 acceptance, with the understanding that his appoint- 

 ment as missionary to Savannah should serve as a 

 door of entrance to the heathen, and also signified at 

 the same time the willingness of his brother Charles 

 to accompany him. A commission for the office of 

 Secretary for Indian Affairs in Georgia, bearing date 

 of September 14, 1735, was transmitted to Charles 

 Wesley, and the great satisfaction of the trustees with 

 their decision was conveyed to John "Wesley by letter, 

 under date of September 18: "Your undertaking adds 

 greater credit to our proceedings; and the propaga- 

 tion of religion will be the distinguishing honor of 

 our colony. This has ever, in the like cases, been the 

 desideratum ; a defect seemingly lamented but scarcely 

 ever remedied. With greater satisfaction, therefore, 

 we enjoy your readiness to undertake the work." 

 That he might be able to officiate in a regular manner 

 as a clergyman in the colony, Charles Wesley was or- 

 dained deacon, by Dr. Potter, Bishop of Oxford, on 

 Sunday, October 5, and on the following Sunday, Oc- 

 tober 12, priest, by Dr. Gibson, Bishop of London. 

 ( John Wesley had before been ordained deacon by\ 

 Bishop Potter, September 19, 1725, and priest by the/ 

 same, September 22, 1728. As Charles was born De- 

 cember 18, 1708, and John, June 17, 1703, they were 



