CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE 18th CENTURY - ( CHAPTER 5 ) - { PT. 13 }

( CHAPTER  5 )  -  { PT.  13 } - Gradually, however, he seems to have laid himself out more and more to try to do good to others, and later was entirely taken up with it. His method of action was in the highest degree simple and unpretentious. Assisted by his brother Charles, who was then a student of Christ Church, he gathered a small society of like-minded young men in order to spend some evenings together every week studying the Greek New Testament. This was in November 1729. The members of this society were at first four in number: John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Mr. Morgan of Christ Church, and Mr. Kirkman of Merton. Somewhat later, they were joined by Mr. Ingham of Queen's, Mr. Broughton of Exeter, Mr. Clayton of Brazenose, the famous George Whitefield of Pembroke, and the well-known James Hervey of Lincoln. This little group of witnesses, as might reasonably have been expected, soon began to think of doing good to others, as well as getting good themselves. In the summer of 1730, they began to visit prisoners in the castle and poor people in the town, to send neglected children to school, to give material aid to the sick and needy, and to distribute Bibles and prayer books among those who did not have them. Their first steps were taken very cautiously, and they cautiously, and they frequently asked John Wesley's father for advice. 
 

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