Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-02-06
For the Delaware Republican.
RE-OPENING OF ASBURY CHURCH.

The renovation Of Asbury Church in this
city was 4 necessity that lad long been felt, not
only by the trustees, who have charge Of its
temporal affairs, but by the membership general
ly, as well as very many persons whose names
are no, yet enrolled on the church books, but
who nevertheless felt, as was clearly demon
strated on the day of the reopenng, that the sue
cess of the enterprise lay very near their hearts,
As is almost always the case there existed diff
ference Of opinion in regard to the comtempla-
led improvements while some were In favor OF
rAzlng the old walls to their foundations and
rearing Oh their site an entire new structure,
others, and perhaps the largest numbert though t
for several very good reasons, it would be best
70 let the venerable walls remain intact, and
thus after much Accommodation between
| the trustees and church generally, it was de-
termined with some fear and II little trembling
that about ten, Or not exceeding twelve thOus-
| md dollars should he expended Ia remodeline,
| and accordingly on or about the 18th Of August
mechanics and lltiIlns were employed to com
ple,t He work III the shortest possible period vi
time Feals had been expressed by some tiIniu
ones, that the walls were not sufficiently strong
to risk such an outlay OF money, but when the
roof Vas removed and thorough examination
made, 1t was found that but few walls, that are
put up in these last times, were equal TO them
fol strength and durability. The trustees had APP
pointed Two oftheir number, Messrs. Reuel HE'S.
lei and Charles Wood, In connection with Rev
Enoch Stubbs the Preacher in charge, as a
building committee, and here lei 1t be said TO
then credit that they most indefltigably dis
charged tue trust committed to their hands,
and were found ready after some unavoidable
| delays, in the mechanical progress of the work
| on account Of scarcity Of hands, and after an
intellnission OF about five months to present to
the board of trustees, and through them to its
large and still increasing membership, an audi
ence room that is not only an honor to all con.
| Gerned, but good and neat enough for the most
fasti1ic1s and yet so plain that oven good old
Sister p. feels entirely at liberty to give an ex
hioition, even during a Sabbath morning ser
vice, Of the manner in which our fathers ant
mothers praised the Lord half a century age
within this sacred enclosure. In the first efforr
to raise funds for the completion of the work
about fuity-iive hundred dollars were secured IL
cash aud subscriptions and this, together witt
abou eleven hundred that the ladies' had on
hand lert MS minus about six thousand dollars
and It vas very desirable that this am uni
should be aised Oh Sunday, the 10Th Of Jan
uaty1 The day set apart for the re-oponinr, an(
lie AGAIN leaI and trembling appeared to taxi
hold OF many Of the brethren, Invitations hat
been extended to all the former pastors thel
living except in the case of Rev. MIR. Sorin an
was thought he was out of reach, being local
ed somewhere In the western States A meet
| ing of the official and leading members hs
been called for Saturday night In the lectuI
room, to meet Rev. DR.. Sirnms, who was exnec
- ed to be present, and where an interchange