Wesley, Samuel (2), A.M., an English clergy- man, son of the Eev. Samuel and Susannah Wesley, was born in London, Feb. 10, 1090. His mother tauglit him to read at the age of five years, and laid the foundation of the scholarship which he afterwards acquired. He was sent to Westminster School in 1704, and was admit- ted king's scholar there in 1707. He was employed for a time in the house of Dr. Sprat, bishop of Rochester, to read to him at night, and in 1711 was elected to Christ Church, Oxford. He remained there a little more than one year, when he received the degree of A.M., and en- tered into holy orders. He officiated as usher in West- minster School for the next twenty years. Here he became familiar with lord Oxford, Pope, Swift, Prior, and other Tory poets and statesmen, though he associated with Addison and others of his class. In 1732 he became head-master nf HlinidelFs free Grammar-school at Tiver- ton, where he remained till his death, Nov. 6, 1739. He was one of the founders of the first infirmary set up at Westminster, now St.deorge's Hospital. He belonged to the High-Church party, and did not co-operate with .John and Charles in their " Methodist" labors ; but he often encouraged them in their zq?& for good works, only cautioning them against such excess as would in- jure their health. He is represented as an excellent preacher, and often exercised his talents in that direc- tion. Like other members of the family, he was highly gifted in poetr\% The first edition of his poems was published in 173G; a second, with additions, appeared in 1743. A new edition was published, with a life of
the author, by AVilliam Nichols, in 1862. He is best known, however, by his hymns. See Stevenson, Me- morials of the Wesley Family.
"Wesley, Samuel (3), an eminent musical genius of England, third son of the Kev. Charles Wesley, was born F'eb. 24, 17GG. He composed the oratorio of liuth before he was eight years of age, and in his later years he was considered the most remarkable extemporane- ous player in Europe. Among his com|iositions were, a Grand Mass for the chapel of pope PiusVI : — a Complete Set-vice for the Cathedrals of the Church of England: — anthems, sonatas, and duets for the pianoforte, and vol- untaries for the organ. He died C)ct. 11, 1837. See (Lond.) Gentleman's Magazine, 1837, ii, 514.
Wesley, Susannah, a remarkable Christian wom- an, wife of Samuel Wesley, Sr., and mother of John and Charles Wesley, was the youngest daughter of the learn- ed Nonconformist divine Samuel Annesley, LL.D., and was born in London, Jan. 20, 16G9. About the year 1G81, before she was yet thirteen years of age, she re- nounced Nonconformity and gave her adherence to the Church of England. In 1G89 she became the wife of Samuel Wesley, to whom she bore nineteen children. The great service she did for the world was accomplish- ed largely through her thorough training of her chil- dren. Her method* of teaching and governing them was peculiar to herself, and is fully described in a letter to her son John, dated Epworth, July 24, 1732. They were not taught to read until they were five years old, when they learned the alphabet in a few days, and be- gan to spell and read, first a line, and then a short para- graph, mastering it perfectly. She was a w^oman of strong intellect, and employed her best powers in the performance of her maternal duties. She was a model mother, and her sons owed a great deal of their success to her prudent counsels. Many incidents remain on record which illustrate her singular independence of character, as well as her womanly deference to legiti- mate authority. For a prolonged period she shared the fortunes of her husband in a country parish with a stint- ed income; but throughout she maintained an active, cheerful, and consistent piety. The family of which they were the joint head was a remarkable one in many respects, and to its peculiarities she contributed her full share. After her husband's death, she remained a short time with her daughter Emilia, and then resided with her son John in London, and became his judicious adviser in carrj'ing out his great work. Previous to her death, her experience was very clear, much more so than formerly, though she seems to have been a true Christian all her days. She died in London, July 23, 1742, and was buried in Bunhill Fields, where lier son John delivered the funeral discourse. See Stevenson, Memorials of the Wesley Family.
Wesleyan Conference, Aistraijan, is the general designation of the regular Methodist body in that province of the British empire.
I. Origin and History. — INIefhodism in Australia and New Zealand has had the marks of Divine Providence stamped upon it from the beginning. Colonization has been both a source of relief and of impoverishment to the mother-countrj' of England. Early in the second decade of the 19th century, the master and mistress of Mr. Wesley's charity-school at Great Queen Street, Lon- don, were sent out as teachers to Australia. An Eng- lish penal colony had existed there some years, and, in order to raise the character of the people, manj- of them released convicts, teachers were first wanted. A few agricultural emigrants had settled in New South Wales, and among them Jlossrs. Bowden and IToskins, two schoolmasters, who had gone out in 1811, recommended by Joseph Butterworth, M. P., to take charge of the charity-school in Sydney. They were iMethodists, and, desiring to have the advantages of the Methodist class- meeting in their new home, commenced the first on the evening of March G, 1812. Twelve persons met at the