Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-01-23

Two side al,les. The walls and ceiling are rich
ly frescoed In neutral tints and beautiful de-
signs Six chandeliers are suspended from the
gallery to light the lower part Of the room, and
Eve from the ceiling to light the gallery. These
are of blue and gold, and contrast very nicely
with those on either side of the pulpit The
floor is carpeted with English carpet, of black
and red, and red cushions cover the seats.
Spanning the pulpit arch are these words
"Jesus says, Ask and ye shall Receive Seek |
and ye shall Find" Beneath the arch and
inside the recess, at Its dome, is,painted dove
upon blue field. Over the centre door Is In
scribed, 81 am the way" over the one to the
right, "Come with u.s. and the left, "Come
unto me-" Three doors have also been put In
to the front part ofthe church; the centre one
Of which is regarded as one of the best speci
mems Of workmanship to be found in the city.
Handsomely stained glass has been inserted in
all the windows. With the exception Of the
stairway, the lower part of the church remains
unchanged. This has been changed next the
inner wall. The outside of the church has
been painted, and a new roof put on. In cut
ting through the walls for the recess and an ex-
tension Of the windows upwards, they were
found to be very hard and firm, and had to be
cut all the way. These are the original walls
Of the church, and the belief Is current that, if
| andsturbed, they will yet witness the crumb-
ling away of other more pretentious ones.
Asbury Church acquired by purchase, at diff
ferent times, fully one-fourth the square upon
the Northwest corner II which 1t is located
Independent of the ground upon which the
church now stands, the lot has been devoted &c
place of interment. 1t is thickly studded with
little mounds-the graves of many Of the an
cestors OF tine church. Here are buried The
Colesburys, the Thelwells, theJ Mitsllls, thu
Woods, and many Others Of the early lights o.
early Methodism, including many pastors o
the church. Soma of these repose beneath thu
edifce, it having been extended over thei
graves In its enlargement.
| Some very old graves are to be found here
The placements ofTime have almost obliterat
ed some Of the Inscriptions upon the tomls, bu
enough Is left to tell whose memory they com
henorate. In the eastern part OF the yard, O
the brow ofthe hill overlooking the little streal
which courses through 1t, lie the mortal re
mains OF one Of John Wesleys class leaders
Philip Chapel The inscription upon the ston
which marks the spot is "1'his small toke
vi llial gratitude was erected To the memory
Philip Chapel, many years leader in I'll
Methodist Society Of London, who died DC
10Th, 1905, aged 90 years. His death occu
red about the same time as Wesley's. Or
,. person was Inferred here as early as 1902.
Some recollections Of early times may not
inappropriate here.
In the early days of the church, Rev. job
" farrell preached OH Sunday, from the text,
lie have fought the good fight" and few ia,
lie thereafter laid down in death. On the folloy
8 ing Sunday, Ezekiel Cooper preached his {
NJ neral sermon from the same text.
Rev. Samuel Doughery, OF St. George
As Philadelphia came here TO preach the dedic
An tory sermon after the enlargement in 1925
r. He sickened however, before the hour of Sc
IS, vice began, and died during the week. Viii
Is. this enlargement was being made, the congi
ar CATION worshipped in the City Hall.
as In lsil-2, during the ministry of Rev. N
by Gerry, the largest revival ever known Ill W
ed mington, was conducted in Asbury. This W
OF still before the erection Of any other Method
lie church, st. Panls not having an existence
lS4i At this meeting 200 persons were co
he victed OF sin, and were seeking pardon. 7
ST. entire upper end OF the church was given up
'o- the penitents, who crowded in wherever tn
es- could find room. There are doubtless ma
IN persons now living whose regenerated liy
I'd, date from this meeting. Another extensive
yival occurred in lsl9-20, during the first p;
It'll torate Of the late Joseph Rushing.
Or The Oldest male member Of the church, n,
,lr living, Is John Guyer, and the Oldest female
ers Sallie Merrihew William Nlvens aud G..
WI Hagany date the commencement OF their n
lit. gious life almost as far back as Mr., Guyer,
lop the latter seems to be In the full yigor Of N;
dis hood,
The late Frederick Craig, father OF Da
ow Craig, ESQ., heard,l when he was boy, b
Sa- George Whitfield, the celebrated orator,
IL Capt, Thos, Webb, Of the British Army.
mo former, when preaching, stood In a POI
ath, that was built around the Shipley and For
ees:; SIS. fronts Of the lhouse still standing on
'rel South west corner of Fourth and Shipley str
t on and at present owned by Henry Latimer,
anne He heard Capt. Webb in the woods at or /
lseu what Is now the corner Of Eighth and
the streets, and 1t was considered by the staid
layers of that day as something very extrao
was nary to see an army officer, dressed In his 7
cry mentals preaching the gospel OF peace.
Oct' Lawrence Lawrenson, who was apro,l
So here about 1920, was, when fairly harne'
~ for the work. the Boanerges of the Phiia
nee phia Conference. He was bachelor and
n ~ OF the meekest of men, but had no conhdt
In his own extraordinary abilities. He
, the about 1928, lamented by the whole churc
ISIS He is vet of precious memory TO ali those
D the knew him.
ca OF The late John Hagany, whose remains S
Just in the rear of the church, was, for l
nom than thirty years, local preacher in
Own Charge, His house was always the hOIn
HE the itinerlnt. At the first conference ever
oVed In Wilmington, which was in 1882, he II
many preparation to entertain about twenty pre-
ers but found, when Conference assem-
time that lac could not get them, there being pl
) STA OF accommodation for ALL Many found he
ever among sister denominations.
40, This first conference was held In the /
I'd, II nent, or lecture room of St. Andrew S Chi
low 1t being more central and having been ki
uil- offered by Its yestry for that purpose. Til
.hes- that time, was considered a very friendl!
was of reciprocity, given in return for the Use 0
III" Asbury Church, which had been offered b.
con Trustees thereof when the nucleus Of the
ent congregation OF st. Andrews was
ciely | formed and when they were vet without
1t house in which to worship. This was |
h be, the pastorate Of the Rev. Dr. Colt. who
sin Of haps was their first pastor. They worsh
} had al Asbnry an Sabbath afternoon