Weatiierford, Thomas, a Methodist Episcopal nimister, was born in Euroiie about 1736. He labored four j'ears in the ministry in the United States. He was slender in frame, remarkable for his piety, and died triumphantly in 1792. See Minutes of Annual Confer- ence's, 1792, p. 45.
"Weaver, John M., a Methodist Episcopal minis- ter, was born in Washington County, N. Y., July 5, 1792. He embraced religion when about twenty-one; was li- censed to preach in 181G ; and joined the New York Con- ference in 1829, in which he served faithfully until 1855, when he was granted a superannuated relation. In 1859 he resumed his Conference work, labored earnestly two years, and then retired from stated work. He died at Ganges, Mich., ]\Iay 1 2, 1872. Mr. Weaver w^as very de- voted to ^Methodism, deeply pious, and an excellent preacher. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1873, p. 6f).
Weaver, Lindsey Carr, a TMethodist Episcopal (South) minister, was born in S|iartanburg District, S. C, Nov. It), 1837. He joined the Church in 1858, while a student at Woffbrd College; graduated in 1859; and in 1860 entered the South Carolina Conference, and labored zealously until failing health obliged him to re- tire from active service. He died at Bishopsville, S. C, Feb. 28, 1863. Mr. Weaver was a young man of great promise, amiable in spirit, uncompromising in integrity, unflinching in zeal, and abundant in good deeds. See Minutes of A nnual Conferences of the M. E. Church, South, 1863, p. -149.
Weaver, Richard, an English Congregational minister, was born at Tewkesbury, Sept. 9, 1804. In early life his mind was impressed with the importance of personal piety. He was educated at Wymondley Col- lege for ministerial work, and in 1830 was ordained over the Independent Church at Foulmire, where he labored usefully for some j'ears. In 18.38 he was stationed at Balsham, and continued for several years in charge of that church. He died Dec. 16, 1862. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-booh, 1864, p. 248.
Weavers, Brothek, is a name given to the Beg- hards, or Lollards, in France on account of the occupa- tion of most of them. See Lollards.
Weaving (5'^X, arug) is an art which appears to be coeval with the first dawning of civilization. In what country or by whom it was invented, we know not; but we Hnd it practiced with great skill by the Egyptians at a very early period, and hence the inven- tion was not unnaturally attributed to them (Pliny, vii, 67). The " vestm-es of flne linen" such as Joseph wore (Gen. xli, 42) were the |)roduct of Egyptian looms, and their quality, as attested by existing specimens, is pro- nounced to be not inferior to the flnest cambric of mod- ern times (Wilkinson, ii, 75). The Israelites were prob- ably acquainted with the process before their sojourn in Egypt ; but it was undoubtedly there that they attained the proficiency which enabled them to execute the hang- ings of the Tabernacle (Exod. xxxv, 35; 1 Chron. iv, 21) and other artistic textures. At a later period the Egyptians were still famed for their manufactures of " flne" (i. e. hackled) flax and of chori, ""in, rendered in the A. V. " networks," but more probably a v-hiie mate- rial either of linen or cotton (Isa. xix, 9; comp. Prov. vii, 16). From them the Tyrians procured the "fine linen with broidered work" for the sails of their vessels (Ezek. xxvii, 7), the handsome character of which may be inferreil from the representations of similar sails in the Itgyptian paintings ( Wilkinson, ii, 13J, 167 ). Weaving was carried on in Egypt generally, but not universally, by men (Herod, ii, 35; comp. Wilkinson, ii, 84). This was the case also among the Jews about the time of the F^xode (1 Chron. iv, 21): but in later times it usually fell to the lot of the females to supply
^-S
Ancient Egyptian Women Weaving.
the household with clothing (1 Sam. ii, 19; 2 Kings xxiii, 7), and an industrious housewife would produce a surplus for sale to others (Prov. xxxi, 13, 19, 24).
The character of the loom and the process of weav- ing can only be inferred from incidental notices. The Egyptian loom was usually upright, and the weaver stood at his work. The cloth was fixed sometimes at the top, sometimes at the bottom, so that the remark of Herodotus (ii, 85) that the Egyptians, contrary to the nsual practice, pressed the woof downwards, must be received with reservation (Wilkinson, ii, 85). That a similar variety of usage prevailed among the Jews may be inferred from the remark of John (xix, 23) that the seamless coat was woven "from the top" (t/c tCv ai'wSsi'). Tunics of this kind were designated by the Romans rectee, implying that they were made at an upright loom at which the weaver stood to his work, thrusting the woof upwards (Pliny, viii, 74). The modern Arabs use a procumbent loom, raised above the ground bj' short legs (Burckliardt, I\otes, i, 67). The Bible does not notice the loom itself, but speaks of the beam ("lU'^, so called from its resemblance to a plough- man's yoke) to which the warp was attached (1 Sam. xvii, 7 ; 2 Sam. xxi, 19) ; and of the pin (r^Bp, a term otherwise understood of the warp, as in the Sept. and the Vulg. [ Gesenius, Thesaur, p. 890 ]) to which the cloth was fixed, and on which it was rolled (Judg. xvi, 14). We have also notice of the shuttle (5")S, de- noting both the web and the shuttle), which is de- scribed by a term significant of the act of weaving (Job