letter

From Walter Churchey to Joseph Benson in Leeds, Yorkshire. Churchey will not give up on Benson with regard to the new prophet [Richard Brothers] without one more letter, especially as there has been two remarkable 'open' visions in this area which would tend to support his [Brothers] views. If Churchey did not possess great regard for Benson and the Methodists, if the matter were not so important (reference is made to the Old Testament prophets Daniel, Ezekiel, Malachi etc) then they may agree to disagree but in the present case he thinks not.

Churchey discusses biblical prophecies in detail, relating them to many contemporary events in Europe. Reference is made to the biblical interpretations made by Sir Isaac Newton and the opinion of [John] Fletcher that the millennium would commence in the third generation from 1754.

In a postscript he asks that his love be passed on to George Turner of Leeds, to whom he may send an account of a remarkable vision in the heavens seen by a gentleman 'of estate, of uncontroverted sense & credibility in this neighbourhood...and 6 or 7 of his domestics also saw it...'

[ This letter can be dated from the fact that Joseph Benson was stationed in Leeds in 1795 and 1796.]

Notes

• Joseph Benson (1748-1821) was one of the most highly regarded of Wesley's preachers. He served two terms as President of the Wesleyan Conference, and from 1803 until his death in 1822 occupied the important position of editor of the Methodist Magazine. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism 1974
• Richard Brothers (1757-1824) was born in Newfoundland and came to England at an early age. He joined the Royal Navy as a fourteen year old midshipman and took part in several engagements. He left the service in 1783 having rose to the rank of Lieutenant and moved to London. He first came to public attention when he objected on religious grounds to the wording of the oath which was required of him as a condition for continuing to draw a Naval Officer's half-pay. In May 1792 he wrote to the King stating that God had commanded Brothers to go to the House of Commons and inform the members that biblical prophecies were about to be fulfilled. After spending some time in prison for debt he printed several of his interpretations of prophecies. His views grew increasingly bizarre, culminating in his declaration that he was the Prince of the Jews. He was finally arrested in 1795 and confined as a lunatic amidst considerable publicity. His supporters engineered his release in 1806 and in later years he occupied himself with astronomical observations. Source: Dictionary of National Biography In his later years the famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton devoted much of his time to an examination of the prophecies of Daniel and St John. Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

Notes

• Joseph Benson (1748-1821) was one of the most highly regarded of Wesley's preachers. He served two terms as President of the Wesleyan Conference, and from 1803 until his death in 1822 occupied the important position of editor of the Methodist Magazine. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism 1974
• Richard Brothers (1757-1824) was born in Newfoundland and came to England at an early age. He joined the Royal Navy as a fourteen year old midshipman and took part in several engagements. He left the service in 1783 having rose to the rank of Lieutenant and moved to London. He first came to public attention when he objected on religious grounds to the wording of the oath which was required of him as a condition for continuing to draw a Naval Officer's half-pay. In May 1792 he wrote to the King stating that God had commanded Brothers to go to the House of Commons and inform the members that biblical prophecies were about to be fulfilled. After spending some time in prison for debt he printed several of his interpretations of prophecies. His views grew increasingly bizarre, culminating in his declaration that he was the Prince of the Jews. He was finally arrested in 1795 and confined as a lunatic amidst considerable publicity. His supporters engineered his release in 1806 and in later years he occupied himself with astronomical observations. Source: Dictionary of National Biography In his later years the famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton devoted much of his time to an examination of the prophecies of Daniel and St John. Source: Encyclopedia Britannica