ROMAN METHODIST
SIR,—In David Rees's review of John Wesley and the Catholic Church, by John M. Todd (Spectator, December 5), he writes: (Wesley) 'believed in the apostolic succession and. the Trinity of course.' Nor- mally this statement as regards the succession might go uncorrected, but the subject is of vital moment far both Anglicans and Methodists in the current attempt at rapprochement.
In 1756 Wesley wrote that he no longer believed the episcopal form of government to be scriptural and apostolical, nor that it was prescribed in the Scriptures.
Later he wrote : 'I firmly believe that I am a Scriptural episcopos, as much as any man in England : for the uninterrupted succession I know to be a fable which no man ever did or can prove.' (New History of Methodism, 1909, Vol. II, p. 158.) He might well have said that he subscribed to the principle of the priest- hood of all believers—following Luther.
'Roman Methodist' was doubtless a convenient short title for the review, but it is singularly unfortu- nate when applied to the later Wesley ! —Yours faith-
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