John Wesley, Jr.: The Story of an Experiment

In Short

This narrative follows the Rev. Walter Drury, a Methodist minister in the town of Delafield, who chooses an unassuming youth, John Wesley Farwell, Jr., to be the subject of a ten-year experiment in character formation. By exposing the boy to the broader social, educational, and international work of the church, Drury attempts to cultivate a layman who understands his role in the world. The book serves as an optimistic reflection on the power of patient, intergenerational guidance and the integration of faith into modern life and global commerce.

The Story

The narrative begins with the Rev. Walter Drury, a steady, unpretentious pastor at First Church, Delafield. Believing that traditional church work often fails to capture the imagination of the youth, he initiates a "ten-year experiment" focused on a single boy, John Wesley Farwell, Jr. (J.W.). Drury does not aim for the priesthood for the boy; rather, he seeks to develop a "new sort of specialist"—a layman deeply invested in the church’s missions and the social health of his community.

Throughout the decade, Drury acts as a subtle architect. He guides J.W. toward the Cartwright Institute, where the boy encounters camp-fire lectures and intense religious discussions that shift his perspective from self-interest to communal service. Alongside his friends—the ambitious Joe Carbrook and the dedicated Marcia Dayne—J.W. begins to explore the realities of Delafield. They study the plight of immigrants, the divisions in the town's social classes, and the limitations of local churches. This exploration leads J.W. to realize that a "great life" does not require becoming a minister, but rather finding a way to serve others within one’s chosen occupation.

As J.W. matures, he enters the hardware business, inheriting the trade from his father but applying a new, global vision to his work. He continues to view his labor through the lens of a "missionary" of tools and human connection. With the help of Drury’s connections, J.W. lands a position that eventually sends him to the Far East to manage trade. Abroad, he does not abandon his faith; instead, he studies the impact of Christian colleges in China and seeks out missionary workers, constantly bridging the gap between commerce and spiritual outreach.

The story concludes with a final gathering in Delafield. Pastor Drury, now aging and in declining health, reunites with J.W., who has returned as a man of influence and purpose. During a moment of intense reflection, J.W. realizes the extent of the minister’s long-term planning—from his early exposure to social issues to his professional placement in the international market. The realization serves as a profound acknowledgment of Drury’s success. The pastor, seeing his student’s growth into a man who understands the "big idea" of the church, feels his life’s work is complete, echoing the words of Simeon in the Gospel of Luke: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace."

How It Unfolds

The genesis of the experiment Rev. Walter Drury initiates a long-term plan to guide young J.W. Farwell, hoping to prove that patient, focused mentorship can create a lifelong commitment to the church's mission. He seeks not a preacher, but a layman who can embody Christian service within the secular world.

The awakening at the Institute J.W. attends a religious gathering where he engages in discussions about home missions and the "big idea" of Christian service. He begins to see that his ordinary life in Delafield can be a conduit for something larger.

Exploring Main Street J.W. enters the local hardware business and begins to connect his work with his social conscience. He realizes that his interactions with customers—from farmers to local immigrants—provide an opportunity to understand and support his community.

The student becomes the teacher While working as a traveling salesman for a major hardware firm, J.W. brings his newfound perspective to the Far East. He investigates missionary work in China and the Philippines, reconciling his commercial success with his desire to serve the church's global goals.

The final realization J.W. returns to Delafield and fully grasps that the events of his life were carefully curated by his mentor. He publicly recognizes the minister’s success, confirming that the experiment has produced a man of purpose.

The People

Walter Drury is the patient, strategic heart of the story. He is a man of quiet conviction who subordinates his personal ambition to the development of his young protégé, viewing his pastorate as a long-term investment in a single life.

John Wesley Farwell, Jr. (J.W.) starts as an average, aimless boy who struggles with the idea that he isn't "special." Through Drury's guidance, he evolves into a man of confidence and intellectual curiosity. He remains a layman, yet he discovers that his identity as a hardware professional and a traveler allows him to practice a form of "commercial missionary" work that is unique to his station.

Joe Carbrook and Marcia Dayne serve as J.W.’s peers and foils. Joe begins as a skeptical youth who eventually feels the call toward medical missionary work, while Marcia provides the moral and social framework that pushes the group to look beyond their own comfortable, exclusive circles. Together, they form a cohort that tests the viability of the church’s social mission, ultimately finding their own paths in a world that requires both technical skills and deep spiritual commitment.

In Its Own Voice

The man who waits until he is secure against the unknown never discovers anything, not even himself.

Drury reflects on the necessity of taking risks in his ministry.

I've got nothing of that in me. But what we heard to-night at the camp fire came straight at me.

J.W. realizes that his ordinary life can still be a "great life" of service.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.

Drury quotes Luke as he realizes his ten-year experiment has successfully shaped J.W.’s character.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book argues that true religious maturity comes from an active engagement with the world rather than a withdrawal from it. It explores the tension between secular "big business" and the church's mission, suggesting that these two spheres can—and should—overlap. The text interrogates the definition of a "calling," positing that the most vital work for the church is often done by the layman who carries spiritual principles into the hardware store or international trade. It is a work about the dignity of the ordinary life and the profound, transformative influence of an intentional mentor.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of American Protestantism or the roots of the "social gospel" movement will find this book particularly illuminating. It offers an earnest, sincere portrait of a bygone era where the church acted as a central nervous system for community life, education, and social reform. Because the book is a period piece, modern readers may encounter dated attitudes regarding race and American exceptionalism—specifically in the passages discussing "Americanization" and the colonial-era perspectives on international trade. However, the author’s warmth and the protagonist’s genuine struggle to find meaning in a world of "tacks and tractors" give the story a human quality that transcends its denominational focus.

Reading it feels like looking through an old photograph album of a community that believed fervently in its ability to improve the world through education and individual character. You will walk away with a sense of the quiet power of persistence. While the prose is occasionally didactic, the central question—"How do I live a meaningful life without becoming a monk or a martyr?"—remains as relevant today as it was in the early 20th century. It is a gentle, rewarding read for anyone who appreciates stories about mentorship, the dignity of work, and the slow, beautiful process of growing up.