Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-11-17
peulnsaIar Convention of the M. Il. Church

ORGANIZATION OF THE BoDY-cHAHcEILoR BATE
MADE PRESIDENT OF THE CONVENTION - HI
SPEECH ON TAKING THE CHAIR.
The first convention of the Methodists Of tn,
Peninsula assembled in the NJ. Z. Church, Smyrna
Del, Nov. 18th, 1870.
At as o'clock, P. NJ, the time designated fo
the opening of the convention, the meeting wai
called to order by Rev. A. Goodman, who pro
posed Rev. Wesley Kenney for temporary chair.
man. and Rev. s. L. dracey, for temporar,
secretary.
The opening devotional services consisted OF
reading Of the scriptures by Rev. I. 7. Cooper
ID. D., who selected the 1880 Psalm and xiii Oh
| or list Corinthians, when w. w. France an.
nounced, the hymn commencing ooh for a
thousand tongues to sing" &C., when the con.
creation was led in prayer by Rev. Joshua
Humphriss. At the conclusion of these devo-
tional services, appropriate remarks were made
by the chairman, after which Revs s. L. Gracey,
A. Mttenhouse, VIM. Torbert, and L. Dawson,
were appointed committee on credentials.
Messrs Goodman, Lghtbourn, Joel Clements,
u. Crouch and Thomas Carrow, were appointed
committee to nominate permanent officers.
After recess Of thirty minutes the roll {
members was called, and the following persons
nominated and elected the permanent officers
OF the Convention
President-Hon. D. NJ. Bates, LID.
Vice Presidents-G. w. Sparks, j. ID. Curtis,
Hon. Cove Salisbury, 7. j. Thompson, Joel
Clements j. b. Quigg, II. P. White, V. Smith.
n, Secretarles-S l.. Gracey, I. L. Poulson, W.
The President elect, on taking the chair, made
a very effective speech, in which he thanked the
members for the honor conferred upon him.
saying g l take leave to express my sincere
appreciation of the respect and confidence you
have thus shown me, and my great pleasure in
being associated with you in so great and grand
cause. will be especially happy If | can
contribute in any way to the success of the
convention. 1t ID suitable that should state
the object for which we are called together. This
object Is most appropriately. presented in the
circular before US, " to consolidate instruct and
inspire our Methodism on this Peninsula" In
the opening measures we hope to initiate some
systematic mode of continuous CO operation IL
~ IN this think that the meeting will find its
chief value. It ID not 30 much what 1T may do
here as that there may be beneficial system of
measures pursued hereafter We may sober
our operations by sober and practical views.
Some exceedingly valuable results must flow
from this Convention, and may be all wed to
suggest two or three things in which this will
appear. First IL affords an opportunity to many
OF the representative men of the church, to see
each others faces and to shake each others
hands, 1t will tighten the cords that bind us
together, give us to feel common responsibility
and intensity and energize our efforts, and also
give right direction to forces that otherwise
should be scattered and wasted. The result must
be to consolidate Methodism on the Peninsula.
This rebuilding of interest is one of the great
steps in the line of improvement.
Our minds are to be directed to some of the
most important agencies and working forces of
the church. The Sunday school, woman's work,
young mems associations, etc. All these will be
brought distinctly before our attention. Pro-
ceeding still outward, and overlapping church
bounds, our attention will be called to some of
the questions which must soon press heavily upon
the christian laymen and ministry in all churches
and Of which we must bear our share in respon-
sibility and work-Questions in reference to the |
Sabbath and the Bible that are awakening the |
attention of the whole country.
The Question whether the Bible is not some |
thing more than book belonging to the Chris |
Jan Church, whether it is not more the book of |
the people, and the only charter of our civil in
stitutions the only rule of order and progress, |
The very cornerstone of our government; whetl- |
81 it may be excluded from our public schools. /
and If 30, whether it may not for similar reasons
Do excluded from our courts Of Justice, and thus |
)ur land, from being Christian, become nfide |
Again the question of Christianity, as |
with our civil institutions, its power |
with the very life of the body polite. The point
= this,-we are to hear the results and concli-
,ions of the mature thought of men Of expe-
fence, learning and observation on these several |
subjects, then these views will 60 back to our |
people, and as result give to our membership
more enlarged views, quicken our sympathes, |
nflame our zeal and love, and lead to more ac-
i've corporation in all the great operations of |
he church.
As lay members we are now more particularly
in these questions than heretofore, |
We are drawn to and interested in their conside- |
'ation and introduced to those heavier RESPONSE
,ilities to which we may soon be called by our
,hurch councils. There is one aspect in which
u laymen we have not sufficiently regarded this
question Of laymen participating in the work now
presented for our acceptance. Lay delegation
N the NJ. L. Church is not duty that we may
AXE up or reject az we fell inclined-it is call |
If Providence to take up the greater duties Of
he christian work. 1t is impossible to imagine |
row this great change in the fundamental law
If church should have been brought to 30 sue
,essful an accomplishment, other than as direct
I'd by the hand of God. This we believe to be
he proyidential adjustment of the working
orces of the church to its great responsibility |
o the age and country in which we are laboring
Is it not time then that We were becoming
,etter acquainted with our working machinery
With the subject presented on this programme
aithfully considerably must be a preparation of
he laymen in some measure better to perform
he work before them.
Then our attention il to be directed to the
rowth Of Methodism on the Peninsula, and its
evelopement. This territory has been given in
substantial sense to Methodism, and has been
onsecrated by the tolls, suiferings and work of
ur fathers.
do not say this in any vain-glorous mood, or
a any way disparagingly OF other denominations.
mt simply as an unquestioned fact of history,
md in this we recognize the fact that God has
djusted the working forces of Methodism, as
est adapted to this community. The usages,
economy, &c. seem to be best adapted
0 the genius of the people of the Peninsula.
Hence no other Church has been able to strike
Is roots so deeply and so widely as the NJ. Il.
,hurch. Let this be no vain boast, but let it
uicken our diligence in the work to which we
ave set our hands. There is scarcely spot of
his territory that is not associated with sacred
memories of those who have gone before Let
10 refer YOU to a few "reminiscences of the in
uence work and position of the Church under
he fathers and something Of their heroic
oings in former years" Several thrilling Incl
ents were presented in reference to the early
lbors of Bishop Asbury, who, he said was not
by the labors of the Apostle Paul.
reference was made to many names held dear
y the Methodism of this Peninsula; and then
i touching and eloquent terms, reference was
lade to the lamented Dr. Quigley, who was SO
ecently with us in health, that his name appears
$ Chairman of one of the committees on this
rQgramme His name seems to link this con-
ention with the work of the fathers, for he was
he equal of any of them.
At the conclusion of the Chancellor's remarks,
committee was ordered to prepare rules for
government of the Convention. All Evangelical
minister's of the town of Smyrna were invited to
anticipate in the proceedings of the Convention.
A committee was appointed to prepare and re-
ort to this body suitable minute OF the death
+ DIR. Qugley.
The chairman of the several committees was
iade member of general committee on
usiness.
Adjourned at o'clock, and at Z, P. NJ, the
hurch was crowded with congregation assem-
led to participate in a general love feast which,
nder the skillful management of Rev. j. d.
'urtis, was great occasion.
The convention is largely attended, and of
reat intere st and promises to be grand success.