New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-26

his preaching He spent the last week Of his ministry
in Portsmouth New Hampshire, preaching every night
in the church parade closing his services Friday
night. On Saturday be rode to Exeter and preached
his last sermon in South Church grounds to Tn i'm
mense audience lie reached Newbupport On the
afternoon OF the same day. too feeble to preach to the
great crowd surrounding his Aouse demanding scr.
mon. lie died the next morning in The house which
joins the Whitfield Church at Eewbuiyport in which
his mauscleum stands.
METHoDIsM IL NEw-YoRK.
In the Spring Of l76O group of emigrants we're at
Limerick Ireland. prepared to embark for America
The little party were Methodists their leader was
young man Of thoughtful look and rcsoute hearing
His name was Philip Embury. lie was st.class
leader and local preacher Of Mehodism on the Ameri
co, Continent
The lito party arrived safely in New York in l7Go
The temptations of a new life led the party away from
their integrity. They lost their sense Of the fear OF
God became worldly. while many fell into the depths
Of SIM Embury was converted under the preaching Of
Wesley Just eight years before be lot the city, He
was Carpenter by trade aid Gained his bread by the
work of bis own hand. The little band were as sheep
without shepherd. They had no altar. 10 cass'meet
ing love-feast. A few stood apart from sinful
amusemenis. but buried their talents. One night
small company wero in a roOm engaged in amuse
mentS-some of them playing cards. The door opened
and woman named barbara Heck walked in among
the reveers "Tl burn your idols" sic said, and
catching the cards she threw them into the fire. She
then upbradei the professors in earnest tones Turn
ing TO Embury she said. Brother Embu-y, you must
preach to us shall oil 20 to he'll and God VIII re-
qure our blood at your hands" The alarmed Embury
started as at the voice of God. Without chapel or con
gregoton he opened Lis own house TO worship. IL
was a small cottage OF wood; one window and door on
tie front and located in what is now known as Park
place. There the foundation of the American Metho-
dist Church was laid, the first Methodist sermon was
preached the first lssmeeting held and the first So
ciety formed. The room amply sufficient for the
wants Of the congregation, for six persons only at
tended. The congregations soon outgrew its accom-
modatons. ard rigging.oft, plain yet tidy. vase
cured for worship. II was located what Is now
known as No. 100 Wilam.st., and was then called
Horse-and Cart-lane.
THE FIRST CHURCH ~ NEwvoRK.
Mary Barclay. the widow of the second rector Of
Trinity Church in the city in 17G5 leased the little
company lot of land on what was then known os
Shoemakers Ground, and now known as John.st. On
this little chapel erected The site af,crward
purchased and on il stands the First Methodist Church
The deed is dated l77O An excellent spirit pcrvaded
the original settlers Of this Island The rector Of the
Trinity Church preached in the Dutch house of worship
whle his building. He accepted the aid Of the
Dutch minister at his Institution Tho Episcopal
Church presented organ TO the Dutch Church, in
token Of Kindness received Men OF all der limitations
signed the paper to all In building a house "for the
service Of the Almighty after the OF tie people
called Methodisis7 The Oldest and most influential
families put their TO the subscription paper. Ii
was signed by Philip Livingston the sgner OF the Dec
laraon Of Independence; by De Lancey. the Lieuten
ant Governors by James Duane, tie first Mayor Of the
city, by the officers o. Trinity Church, and Others
The house was called the Wesley Chapel 1t was
built OF stone and stood distance from the street
and for Eve years was unfinished There stairs
or breastwork TO the galleries. They reached by
ladder. The preacher stood % platform, and the
seats for the hearers were benches without backs AS
il was contrary 20 law 70 build church that not
Dutch, the trustees eYaded the law Qt was said by
hin; given by the nasistrates) by adding fireplace
aad chimney; so that; in the eye OF the law IL be
cane a "private dwelling" The preacher who ded
Gated it TO Almighty God worked as carpenter on the
sacred edifce. The grandfather OF Judge Edwards
worked on the church mason Each person at
night carried his candies and he sat in the DARK
it was his own choice
THE PREACHERS HOUSE.
This building erected Immediately on the con-
pletion Of the church II was called the preacher
house stood in the ward in front Of the chapel 1t
was small rough building, gloomy to look at with few
windows. and, preachers wife said. as "Cod as a
barn" a pair OF stairs in the connected 1t with
the chapel 1t was furnished by the congregation in
the panest style Beneath its roof has rested Of
tle nobles. men the church delights to honor.
TEE GHowTH OF METHoDIsM.
Tie sect cen take up the boast Of EHgInd that the
sun does not set on its otars. Its missionaries follow
the drum.Leat Of England in their march round tie
world Nothing can be smaller than tho starr Of this
sect in company Of cardplayer& with its first little
congregaton. and its worship in a rigging loft on
Horse.and. Cartlane. Nothing can be more marvellous
than the growth Of this Church The children Of poor
preachers and poor hearers tact aud enterprise have
become the wealthy men and women Of the land.
Many heard tie Gospel from faithful lips when they
were in sin or were counted among the lowly
ones Of earth. They foand religion no less an
aid 10 their temporal than their spiritual in
forest There are many OF them in commanding po
jtions The have rot forgotten the church OF their
fathers and have resolved 20 make great power in
the land Churches Of white marble and brown stone,
With elegant adornmeltsi with frcscO paintings and
sculpture with costly organs and oil the elegant np-
plances Of modern worship well as humber churches
suited to vaaed locations, stand in the city. Leading
men IN oil professions and callln2s members Of tais
body. B1nkers Elionaircs. merchant princes, rs well
as professional men, adogn It's ranks. Its property in
America in churches aud parsoDagcs amounts to near
y s3QOO0,OOO Its properly In colleges and schools
amounts to over g. O)00N. Its Sunday School Union
corlprses 10 400 schools than $4,000 teachers.
nearly 9ls OOO pupils more thaa 800 900 library books