As October 31 approaches, children already are thinking about what their Halloween outfit will be. My granddaughter has purchased hers and is eagerly looking forward to dressing up. I have even been given a preview. Of course, she is absolutely precious in her costume, as perhaps is your child or grandchild.
    Some people have questions about this day and how it should be recognized. Some truly disagree with the emphasis on ghosts, goblins and the like. As United Methodists we have an interest in John Wesley’s thoughts on this subject.
    John Wesley believed in witches and ghostly apparitions. In this belief he went against the opinions of many learned persons of the 18th century. He based his belief primarily on the Bible. These learned men know, he said, "that giving up witchcraft is in effect giving up the Bible.” 
In 1770 Wesley wrote in his journal [7-04-70] about a young woman who had been the subject of convulsions, extreme agitations, incoherent mutterings and self-directed violent acts. “The disbelievers say to me, ‘Did you ever see an apparition yourself?’  No. Nor did I ever see a murder. Yet I believe there is such a thing; yea, and that in one place or another they do exist.” 
One example of a person who had such experiences was Elizabeth Hobson. She reportedly continued to experience apparitions and prescient visions most of her life. The fact that Wesley included such an extensive account of her experiences in his writings and the extent of his interest in “wonders in nature, ‘providences,’ dreams, visions, demon-possession, witchcraft” is evidenced by the appearance of such accounts in his writings and sermons.
Wesley certainly seemed to be determined to protect the integrity of the concept of evil spirits and other such apparitions.