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Wesleyan Holiness Studies Center Bulletin 6:2 (Summer 1998) Wesleyan Holiness Studies Center

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Wesleyan Holiness Studies Center Bulletin 6:2 (Summer 1998) Wesleyan Holiness Studies Center Asbury Theological Seminary ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange Bulletin Newsletters 1998 Wesleyan Holiness Studies Center bulletin 6:2 (Summer 1998) Wesleyan Holiness Studies Center Follow this and additional works at: http://place.asburyseminary.edu/revitalizationbulletin Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Wesleyan Holiness Studies Center, "Wesleyan Holiness Studies Center bulletin 6:2 (Summer 1998)" (1998). Bulletin. 8. http://place.asburyseminary.edu/revitalizationbulletin/8 This Periodical/Journal is brought to you for free and open access by the Newsletters at ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletin by an authorized administrator of ePLACE: preserving, learning, and creative exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. S U MM E R 1 998 • V O L UME 6 , N o 2 Wesleyan/Holiness Studies Center at Asbury Theological Seminary Bulletin An Anatomy of Early Methodism John H. Wigger. Taking Heaven of class meetings, love feasts Gregory Schneiders The Way of vignettes, often allowing the by Storm: Methodism and the and camp meetings; settling of The Cross Leads Home (1993), individual his or her own voice. Rise of Popular Christianity in the itinerant; success in publish­ and Donald Mathews' essays - Allowing individuals a voice Amenm. (New York: Oxford ing - as the inevitable outwork­ argue in a more daring fashion. and a place - Wigger's strategy University Press, 1998). ing of its popularity and cultural More focused or specialized - also constituted Methodism's importance. The intervening six studies, both dissertations and strategy, he argues. It allowed Reviewed by Russell E. Richey chapters probe the anatomy essays, provide more startling the marginal of the society to that gave Methodism its success: discoveries. Wigger elects to speak, in class and at love feasts tunning. magnificent, pun­ the connectional system, the keep the whole Methodist sys­ (if irregularly), as exhorters or gent, well-crafted, beautiful­ itinerancy, the structures of local tem and its relation to preachers. In its preaching and Sly written, painstakingly Methodism (class, love feast, American society in view and to hymnody it drew on the researched, lavishly document­ quarterly meeting. camp meet­ reflect continuously on the two intense, explosive idioms of the ed, careful, comprehensive, ing. discipline), the inner and sides to Methodism's populari­ folk. Its praxis welcomed in insightful, compelling - I can outer pattems of enthusiasm ty- its appropriateness for and spirituality from popular west­ think of few commendations em and African culture. Its about a book that I would not ~ combination of national system offer for this one. It provides the and local initiative created a best treatment of early Allowing individuals a voice and a place - national religious free enterprise American Methodism (to corporation. Its discipline 1820> that we have and are Wigger 's strategy - also constituted encouraged the industrious likely to get any time soon. from the middle and lower Wigger has produced what Methodism's strategy, he argues. classes the resources to suc­ one might term an anatomy of ceed. And then, of course, it early Methodism. The first chap­ (dreams, visions, trances, shout­ its embrace of popular culture. was to become the agent of ter explores what Wigger means ing. healing. falling) that ren­ So, while Wigger may not their advancement, refining by his subtitle, namely the dered the supematural accessi­ surprise the specialist on itiner­ itself to suit an increasingly appeal of Wesleyanism to the ble, self-validating and egalitari­ ancy or on women, he pro­ middle-class constituency. folk on the margins of society an; the appeal of Methodism to vides virtually everything essen­ Readers of this joumal will whose restlessness enterprise, African-Americans; and the tial the specialists offer and be pleased to see that Wigger ambition, willingness to sacrifice rules of women in the move­ does so in relation to his larger compares early Methodism and orientation to the future ment. purpose. He also keeps the larg­ with the later holiness and made them open to a theology, Wigger dissects each organ er end in view with telling com­ Pentecostal movements. They cults and praxis at once critical or organic element with care. parisons of American may be less pleased to find its of "establishment" and cogent as Indeed, what distinguishes this Methodism to its British coun­ center. Wigger's Methodism is an altemative system. The wide­ study is its carefulness, its dis­ terpart, to its American com­ not a confessing movement but spread embrace of Methodism ceming use of prior research, its petitors and to the contempora­ rather, as he titles the key chap­ made Methodism a primary exhaustive coverage of primary neous developments in society ter, "A Boiling Hot Religion." shaper of American society and materials, and its attention to at large. Another feature of the at the same time wedded the various ramifications of volume that both serves the Russell E. Richey is professor of Methodism to popular culture. whatever is under review. larger purpose and holds the Church History at the Divinity Wigger pursues the two sides of Thoroughness rather than radi­ reader's attention is his constant School, Duke University. Among this embrace throughout the cally new discoveries is what is introduction of individual his most significant works are Early volume and retums to it in his surprising about Wiggers work. Methodists - black, white, American Methodism (1991 ) final chapter which examines Other recent statements about male, female, local actor, major and The Methodist Conference "Methodism Transformed." Methodism - Christian figure, preacher, and leper. On in America: A History (1996). There he shows Methodism's Heyrman's Southern Cross: The virtually every point he pro­ He is also co-editor ofThe enculturation - wealth; disuse Beginnings of the Bible Be/~ A. vides one or more personal Methodists (J 996). Recent Articles on Wesleyan/Holiness Themes Alexander, Estrelda Y. "Liturgy and Affections." Methodist Hynson, Leon 0. Wesleyan Holiness in the Early in Non-Liturgical Holiness History 36 (April 1998): 162- "Congregational' Wesleyan 7: Twentieth Century." Methodist Pentecostalism." Wesltyan 175. The Evangelical Congregational History 36 <April 1998): 176- 7heologiml Jourrull 32 Church, 1922-1950." Methodist 190. (December 1997): 158-193. Eskridge, Larry. "One Way: History 36 (july 1998): 207- Billy Graham, the Jesus 219. Randall, Ian M. "Old Time Althouse, Peter. 'The Influence Generation, and the Idea of an Power: Relationships between of Dr. J. E. Purdie's Reformed Evangelical Youth Culture." Johns, Helen H. "Rhoda Lee Pentecostalism and Evangelical Anglican Theology on the Church History 67 (March Revisited." Brethren in Christ Spirituality in England." Pneurrul Formation and Development 1998): 83-106. History and Life 22 (December 19 (january 1997): 53-80. of the Pentecostal Assemblies 1997): 185-208. of Canada." Pneuma 19 (Spring Geissler, Suzanne. 'Too Randell, Ian M. 'The Pentecostal 1997) 3-26. Methodistical: The Rejection of Keefer, Luke. "Brethren in League of Prayer: A British Uzal Ogden.' Methodist History Christ: Uneasy Synthesis of Holiness Movement" Wesltyan Bays, Daniel H. 'The Early Years 36 (October 1997): 17-32. Heritage Streams." Wesltyan 7heologiml Jourrull 33 (Spring of the Oriental Missionary 7heologiml Journal 33 (Spring 1998): 185-200. Society: Foreign Missionaries Gobbett, Brian W. "Inevitable 1998): 92-110. and Native Evangelists in Japan, Revolution and Methodism in Reed, Rodney L. 'Worship, 1901-1917." Fides et Historia 29 Early Industrial England: Kostlevy, William. "Christian Relevance, and the Preferential (Winter/Spring 1997): 15-27. Revisiting the Historiography Perfection in Pennsylvania Option for the Poor in the of the Halevy Thesis." Fides et Dutch Country: The 1868 Holiness Movement, 1880- Bratt, James D. 'The Histona 29 (Winter/Spring Manheim Camp Meeting of 1910." Weslryan 7heologiml Reorientation of American 1997): 28-43. the National Holiness Journal 32 (Fall 1997): 80-104. Protestantism, 1835-1845." Association." Chronicle: Jourrull Church History 67 (March Hamilton, Michael S. and of the Historiml Society of the Repa, Scott J. and Stephen G. 1998): 52-82. Margaret Lamberts Bendroth. Central Pennsylvania Conference Cobb. "Mind, Body, and Soul: "Keeping the 'Fun' in of the United Methodist Church 9 Institutional Ministry Among the Bundy, David. 'Thomas Fundamentalist: The Winona (Spring 1998): 25-35. Navajo and the Brethren in Cogswell Upham and the Lake Bible Conference." In Christ Mission, 1870-1991." Establishment of a Tradition of Douglas Jacobsen and William Lennox, Stephen J. "Biblical Brethren in Christ History and Life Ethical Reflection." Encounter Vance Trollinger, Jr., Re- Interpretation, American 22 (December 1997): 236-271. 59 (1998): 23-40. Fonning the Center: Amerimn Holiness Movement, 1875- Protestantism, '900 to the 1920." Weslryan 7heologiml Rothenbusch, Esther. "Is Not Burrow Jr., Rufus. "Borden Present (Grand Rapids: William JOUrrull33 (Spring 1998): 14-31. This the Land of Beulah?: The Parker Bowne: The First B. Eerdmans, I 9981. Search for the Holy Spirit in Thoroughgoing Personalist." Noll. Mark A. 'Thomas American Gospel Hymns." Methodist History
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