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sometimes being refused admittance altogether； and at other times being
allowed to enter only after much delay； which caused Wesley to 〃greatly
wonder that common sense and common humanity do not put an end to
this senseless； inhuman usage of strangers。〃 When any of their number had
an acquaintance in the city to which they had come they sent in a note to
him； and he would arrange for their entrance； and at Frankfort they applied
to Peter Boehler's father； who entertained them 〃in the most friendly
manner。〃
On Tuesday； July 15th； they reached Marienborn； where Wesley
remained for fifteen days； and Ingham for about seven weeks。
From Marienborn； Wesley went to Herrnhut； stopping at Erfurt；
Weimar； Jena； Halle； Leipsig and Dresden on the way。He remained at
Herrnhut twelve days； and then returned by the same route to Marienborn；
and to England。
This trip to Germany has been given as the beginning of the breach
between Wesley and the Moravians； but it is doubtful whether such was
really the case。In the 〃Memoirs of James Hutton〃 it is stated that Wesley
was offended because Ingham was admitted to the Communion at
Marienborn； while permission was refused him； and that he secretly
brooded over the injury； but Wesley himself does not mention the
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occurrence； and refers to Marienborn as a place where he met what he
〃sought for； viz。：living proofs of the power of faith；〃 and where he stayed
twelve days longer than he at first intended。 The tone of his account of
Herrnhut is also distinctly friendly； though he did not unreservedly accept
two or three theological statements made to him； but the long
conversations he records prove his joy at finding sympathy； and
confirmation of what he wanted to believe concerning justification by faith；
and the fact that a weak faith was still a real faith； and as such should be
cherished and strengthened； not despised。He could not have been greatly
influenced against the Moravians by his visit to Halle； for each time he
stayed but one night； and on the first occasion Professor Francke was not
at home； nor were their arguments new to him； that they should have
impressed him deeply。
It frequently happens that when a controversy has arisen between
friends； both parties look backward and read into former words and deeds
a meaning they did not have at the time they transpired； and most probably
this is what has happened in regard to the trip to Germany and its effect on
Wesley。
Immediately on his return to England； Wesley began an active
religious campaign； drawing such crowds of all kinds of people that the
various churches in turn closed their doors upon him； and eight months
later he followed Whitefield into open air preaching； after consultation
with the Fetter Lane Society。This Society had been organized at the time
of Boehler's visit to London； and was composed of members of the earlier
Methodist societies； Germans residing in London； and English who had
been interested in salvation by Zinzendorf and the Moravian companies
bound for Georgia。 It had met in the home of James Hutton until it
outgrew the rooms； and was then transferred to the Chapel at 32 Fetter
Lane。 It was an independent Society； with no organic connection with the
Moravian Church； and the religious work was carried on under the
leadership of John Wesley； and； in his frequent absences； by James Hutton
and others who leaned strongly toward the Moravians； some of whose
customs had been adopted by the Society。 The Hutton 〃Memoirs〃 state
that Wesley made an effort to break off intercourse between the Society
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and the Moravians soon after his return from Germany； but failed； and
matters continued to move smoothly until about the time that Wesley
began his field preaching。During the subsequent months disputes arose
among the members； largely on account of views introduced by Philip
Henry Molther； who at that time had a tendency toward 〃Quietism〃。
Molther was detained for some time in England； waiting for a ship to take
him to Pennsylvania； he having received a call to labor in the Moravian
Churches there； and being a fluent speaker he learned English rapidly and
made a deep impression on many hearers。
Wesley was much hurt by the dissensions in his Society； and entirely
opposed to Molther's views； and after several efforts to bring all the
members back to his own position； he； on Sunday； July 31st； 1740；
solemnly and definitely condemned the 〃errors〃 and withdrew from the
Fetter Lane Society； adding 〃You that are of the same judgment； follow
me。〃About twenty…five of the men and 〃seven or eight and forty likewise
of the fifty women that were in the band〃 accepted his invitation； and with
them he organized the 〃Foundry Society〃。Into the Foundry Society and the
many others organized among his converts； Wesley introduced lovefeasts
and 〃bands〃 （or 〃classes〃；） both familiar to him from the Fetter Lane
Society； which had copied them from the Moravians。When his societies
grew so numerous that he could not personally serve them all he selected
lay assistants； and then 〃became convinced that presbyter and bishop are
of the same order； and that he had as good a right to ordain as to
administer the Sacraments。〃 He； therefore； ordained bishops for America；
and Scotland； and registered his chapels in order to protect them；
according to the Act of Toleration。This gave the Methodist body a separate
legal status； but Wesley always claimed that he was still a member of the
Church of England； and would not allow the preachers of his English
societies to administer the Sacraments； a right which was finally granted
them by the Methodist Conference after his death。