Etymology of Wes

To the Editor:

Matt DiBlasi’s October 20th issue article was most informative about the connection between the name Wesleyan and the founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley, who, as the article said, died forty years before Wesleyan’s foundation. Perhaps I quibble, but I wonder if the University was named more in honor of the man, Wesley, or for the common name for the Methodist movement/church in the 18th and 19th centuries—the “Wesleyan” movement or “Wesleyanism.” If it were the latter, then the University’s name would be akin to “Methodist University.” Perhaps Mr. DiBlasi could comment.

Sincerely,
Richard Grimm