WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1877. THE HUNDREDTH YEAR OF THE WESLEYAN- 'How few of the things we hold most dear-Ever reach the hundredth year!' This wise saw' is as true of periodicals as of other mundane matters. The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, however, has attained this exceptional longevity. It has twice changed its name, more than once changed its price, again and again varied its size and shape, very often changed its Editors; but it has never changed its principles. The silvery hoar of antiquity is to it 'a crown of glory,' for it is still 'found in the way of righteousness.' At such a time it seems natural, and can scarcely be uninteresting or unprofitable, to take a short survey of its history; although obvious reasons, besides the straitness of our limits, will confine us chiefly to its first half-century. The The Arminian Magazine was originated by Mr. Wesley, in the year 1778, principally as an engine of polemical theology. It was much more a sword than a trowel. The Preface to the first number announced it as designed to take the place of The Christian Magazine, which had collapsed, and to oppose The Spiritual Magazine and The Gospel Magazine, which had sprung up in its place. It was born armed, out of the busy brain of Wesley. Its controversial design was proclaimed in its title The Arminian Magazine. The Preface was not merely a manifesto, but a distinct declaration of war. very Poetry-for a time composed, almost exclusively, by the Wesley family -was principally directed to polemical purposes: its muse, like an Amazon, preferring the trumpet to the lyre. Mr. Wesley did not leave it to win a market solely by its merits, but printed it by subscription.' It was to contain eighty pages, (the same number as the present,) its price being one shilling. It in fact only contained fifty pages,—the first number forty-eight. It announced its resolve to admit neither news nor politics. Methodism had long felt the need of a literary organ of its own. For nearly forty years before he consented, Wesley had been 'desired' to publish such a periodical. He and his brother were the conjoint Editors, but for the first two years the VOL. I.-SIXTH SERIES. B ardent and poetic Thomas Olivers was the tryingly incompetent sub-Editor, or Corrector of the Press.' Reviews were excluded, because the candid, conscientious, humble-minded Wesley would 'not be bound to read over all the present religious productions of the press,' and scrupled his own sufficiency for the work; and, it seems, knew no one to whom he could confide the reviewing department. He declared, in a letter to Thomas Taylor,* that his object was 'not to get money,' even for his arduous evangelistic enterprises, but to counteract the poison of other periodicals, 'to oppose Magazine to Magazine,' to fight adversaries with their own weapons' and 'to guard those who are not poisoned yet.' But the polemics were as dignified as they were daring and determined. They were never allowed to degenerate into squabbling debate. The Magazine,' says Wesley, 'goes straight forward, taking notice of no opponents, but invariably pursuing the one point. And this is the only way to preserve the Methodists, and make the Calvinists quiet.' Moreover, conjoined with this controversial aim, and scarcely secondary to it, was that of direct edification. The Arminian Magazine was after all a chapel in the style of a citadel: templum in modo arcis. It supplied, by means of Lives and Letters, the marrow of experimental and practical religion.' This formed a large element in the originality and speciality of the project. Nothing of the kind had appeared before. It was, as Wesley said, 'a new thing in the land.' It was aggressive in order to be conservative. 'I publish it,' says Wesley, 'not to convince, but to preserve.' He was very sensitive as to the credit of the Magazine, and met objections with frankness and respect. The complaint-It is too short,' he answered by adding eight pages to every number.' He writes, 'It was objected, "There is not variety enough." I answered, "Here is all the variety I promised." But I will add more variety to the Historical part, by inserting some account of our Preachers. It was objected, "There are no pictures." This objection is now removed; but it is not removed to my satisfaction: far, very far from it.......I will have better, whatever they cost.' It was objected, 'Some of the tracts' (the bulk of the serial was a collection of previously published treatises) are hard to be understood.' His answer was, 'I allow they were; but those that follow will be plainer and plainer.' In answer to the demand for a larger number of 'Practical Treatises,' to the exclusion of controversy, he insists on the inexorable necessity of fighting error. † 6 One very noteworthy point, and highly characteristic of Wesley, is that he admits, after the first few numbers, a considerable proportion of merely sentimental poetry, refined and elegant, but with not the slightest infusion of positive Christianity. A signal instance of this was the filling fourteen pages, Tyerman, vol. iii., p. 284. Dear Tommy' was strongly opposed to the Magazine, and wrote a long letter to Mr. Wesley, dissuading him from its publication. Wesley found time to write to him a detailed demonstration of its propriety, utility and necessity. † Address to the Reader, January, 1779. |