614 
WES 
vided each society into companies of ten or fifteen, called 
classes, to each of which belongs a leader, whose business it 
was every week to see every person of his class, and to in¬ 
quire into his religious state. Many of these companies were 
divided into smaller parties, called bands, in which the mar¬ 
ried and single men, and the married and single women, 
were ranged apart, and they were directed to maintain a 
confidential intercourse with regard to their character and 
state with each other. From these bands again were formed 
select bands, consisting of those who had attained to per¬ 
fection. Of his love-feasts, &c., we have given an account 
under Methodists. Stewards were appointed to receive 
contributions, which the lowestmembers were expected to pay, 
however small the sums, and to superintend the temporal 
concerns of the societies. In order to preserve a connection 
between the preachers, as well as to maintain their ultimate 
subordination to him, Wesley found it useful to summon an¬ 
nually a considerable body of them, in order tp take counsel 
with him, and with one another, concerning the general af¬ 
fairs of the societies. These assemblies were called “ Con¬ 
ferences 5” and the great number of them at which Wesley 
had to preside was a principal means of consolidating the 
whole frame of the society, and maintaining his permanent 
authority over every part. Wesley and his first followers 
had many difficulties with which to contend, but their con¬ 
stancy and fortitude, and the apparently beneficial effects of 
their endeavours in reforming some of the most abandoned 
members of the community, enabled them ultimately to 
triumph over all opposition, and to pursue their labours 
without molestation. On account of his fanaticism and en¬ 
thusiasm he has suffered ridicule and reproach; and some 
have even suspected his sincerity in the details which he has 
iven of the extraordinary manifestations of light that have 
een communicated to him, and the no less extraordinary 
interpositions of providence in his favour; alleging that he 
possessed a degree of understanding which could not be de¬ 
luded, and, therefore, charging him with a design of delud¬ 
ing others, in order to serve his own purposes. But these 
are harsh reflections, the justice of which we cannot be in¬ 
duced easily to allow. About the year 1759, Wesley, who 
had long been the eulogist of a single life, thought proper 
to marry a rich widow, whose fortune he settled wholly 
upon herself; but this connection proved an occasion of in¬ 
felicity, and therefore they separated. She died in 1781. 
Wesley seems to have adopted his father’s high-church prin¬ 
ciples, and he persevered in avowing his connection with 
the established church, and in preventing, as far as possible, 
a separation between his followers and the professors of the 
established religion. During the American war he was a 
zealous advocate for the measures of government, and he 
inculcated the duty of submission to the trans-Atlantic Me¬ 
thodists. With this view he published a pamphlet, entitled, 
« A Calm Address to the American Colonies,” which was 
widely disseminated ; and though some of his followers were 
displeased, others were supporters of the authority of Great 
Britain; whilst, on the other hand, the Methodists in the 
connection of Mr. Whitfield were generally on the side of 
American independence. When the contest terminated, it be¬ 
came a matter of some importance to determine what kind of 
connection should subsist between the American Methodists 
and their British brethren. Mr. Wesley was induced for 
this purpose to take a step, which appeared to be a renuncia¬ 
tion of the principle of an episcopal church. By his own 
authority he ordained, with imposition of hands, several 
preachers who were embarking for America, and consecrated 
a bishop for the Methodist episcopal church in that country, 
who, on his arrival, consecrated another, and ordained seve¬ 
ral as presbyters. He also assumed the same authority with 
respect to Scotland; “Setting apart,” as he says, “three 
preachers in 1785, to administer in that country the sacra¬ 
ments of baptism and the Lord’s supper.” In self-defence 
he alleged that he had been for several years convinced by 
lord King’s account of the primitive church, that bishops 
and presbyters are the same order, and have the same right 
LEY. 
to ordain ; but that he declined exercising this right in or¬ 
daining his travelling preachers, because he did not wish to 
violate the established order of the national church to which 
he belonged. By these measures he offended many in his 
own connection, and particularly his brother Charles; and 
it is said, that before his death he repented of his proceed¬ 
ings, and used all his endeavours to counteract the tendency 
which he then perceived to a final separation from the 
church. 
In a very advanced age, Wesley retained his ability of 
bearing the fatigue which attended his numerous and ex¬ 
tensive labours; and these were continued till within a week 
of his death, which happened on March 2d, 1791, in the 
88th year of his age. 
In Wesley’s countenance mildness and cheerfulness were 
blended with gravity, and in old age it was singularly vene¬ 
rable. “ In his manners,” says one of his biographers, “ he 
was social, polite, convertible, and pleasant, without any 
of the gloom and austerity common in the leader of a sect. 
In the pulpit he was usually short and clear, argumentative 
and sedate, often entertaining, but never attempting the elo¬ 
quence of the passions. His style in writing was of a simi¬ 
lar cast; he expressed himself with facility and precision, 
and even in controversy seldom elevated his tone beyond a 
temperate medium. He was placable towards his enemies, 
charitable, and in pecuniary matters extremely disinterested. 
His greatest failing was a love of power, which rendered 
him impatient of contradiction with regard to every thing 
that concerned his administration as head of his society; yet 
it is certain that he could not have brought his plans to effect, 
without a considerable share of absolute authority. It must 
also be admitted, that he had much of the politician in his 
character, and could employ artifice when useful for his pur¬ 
poses. That he was thoroughly persuaded of the truth of the 
system he taught, and had at heart the best interests of man¬ 
kind, it would be uncandid and unwarrantable to question ; 
and he will be a memorable person as long as the fabric 
which he so much contributed to raise shall endure.”- —Lives 
of J. Wesley, by Hampson, Coke, and Whitehead. 
WESLEY, a township of the United States, in Washing¬ 
ton county, Ohio. 
WESSEL’S ISLANDS, a chain of islands which extend 
north-eastward from the north coast of New Holland, 13 
leagues, at the entrance of the gulf of Carpentaria on the 
west side. The northern extremity is in Lat. 11. 18. S. 
WESSEM, an inland town of the Netherlands, in the pro¬ 
vince of Limburg, on the Maese, with 1050 inhabitants; 
22 miles north-by-east of Maestricht. 
WESSINGTON, or Washington, a township of Eng¬ 
land, in Derbyshire ; 3J miles north-west-by-west of Alfre- 
ton. Population 373. 
WESSINGTON, or Westington, a hamlet of England, 
in Gloucestershire.—2. A hamlet of England, in the parish of 
Heddon on the Walls, Northumberland. 
WEST, s. [pe] C, Saxon; west, Dutch.] The region 
where the sun goes below the horizon at the equinoxes. 
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day. 
Now spurs the lated traveller apace. 
To gain the timely inn. Shakspeare. 
WEST, adj. Being towards, or coming from, the region 
of the setting sun.—The Phenicians had great fleets; so had 
the Carthaginians, which is yet farther west. Bacon. 
WEST, adv. To the west of any place; more west¬ 
ward. 
West of this forest, 
In goodly form comes on the enemy. Shakspeare. 
To WEST, v. n. To pass to the west; to set, as the 
sun.—And twice hath risen, where he now doth west. 
Spenser. 
WEST (Benjamin), one of the most famous of the Eng¬ 
lish painters, was born on the 10th of October, 1738. He 
was the son of John West, a quaker, residing at Springfield, 
a village in the interior of Pennsylvania. His father might 
be 
