Another practice that would begin mockery was John Wesley's (another famous Methodist) habit of opening the Bible for a random clue in the text that could be interpreted as advice. This was a problem with Methodists as well, when they saw their fellow Methodists doing this. In The Spiritual Quixote, the Methodist Geoffrey Wildgoose consults a Bible to see whether or not he should steal a horse.

Laymen and preachers sent out in public also raised ridicule in other ways. The Methodist, a Comedy, has a Methodist preacher Dr. Squintum, accused of being "An Enthusiastic Rascal! That frightens the Ignorant out of their Wits, and afterwards picks their Pockets"(69). In other words, preaching for money and support were many reasons people believed Methodists would go out in public. Others attributed sexual immorality to the Methodist preacher, and believed he was out there to seduce potential female converts.

George Whitefield, Methodist preacher, was mocked the most in plays and in stories. He was flamboyant and a convincing speaker, in other words, just asking for it. As a result of childhood measles, he had a slight squint to one of his eyes. This characteristic was mocked and exaggerated. Dr. Squintum in Samuel Foote's The Methodist, A Comedy, was George Whitefield's most common nickname. People acted like the squint was more like a wink or a smirk at their ignorance and his triumph over orthodox religion. In Evan Lloyd's The Methodist the squint was a leftover mark the devil left on Whitefield's face while binding him at the wheel (129). When Whitefield published an autobiography, An Account of God's Dealings with the Reverend Mr George Whitefield, his bared honesty displayed in the novel gave people many more ideas to mock him with. A youthful "secret sin" he mentioned was guessed to be many things, like sodomy or incest. Whitfield's dressing in tatters in order to feel more pious also added to the mockery. His birthplace at Bell's Inn allowed Henry Fielding in Tom Jones to mention Tom's staying at this inn, writing "The master of it is brother to that great preacher Whitefield; but it is absolutely untainted with the pernicious principles of Methodism, or of any other heretical sect" (131).

Back to Home Previous Page Next Page