Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-01-18

way These are the original walls Of the old
church, and the bslief is current that, II undis-
turbed, they will yet witness the crumblng away
of other more pretentious ones.
Asbury Church acquired by purchase, at diff
ferent times, fully one-fourth the square upon
the Northwest corner of which 1t Is located. ln-
dependent Of the ground upon which the church
stands, the lot has been devoted to place Of in
terment. It ia thickly studded with little
mounda-the graves OF many OF the ancestoTsIof
the church. Here are buried the Colesburysithe
ThHlwells, the Witsills, the Woods, and many
other of the early lights OF Methodism, including
many pastors OF the church. Some OF these re-
pose beneath the edihce,i having been extended
over their graves In its enlargement
Some very old graves are to be found here:
The effacements Of Time have almost obliterated
some Of the inscriptions upon the tombs, but
enough is left to tell whose memory they COM
memorate. In the eastern part of the yard ON
the brow OF the hill overlooking the little st'eam
which courses along through IT, lilo the mortal
remains of one Of John Wesley's class-l leaders
Philip ChAppel The inscription upon the stone
which marks the spot Is; This small token OF
filial gratitude was erected to the memory OF
Phillip Chapel, many years leader IN the
Methodist Society Of London, who died oe. i9th
1895, aged go years" His death occurred about
tho same time IS Wesley's One person was IN
TERED here al early as l792
Some recollectons Of early times may not be
inappropriate here.
In the early days of tho church, Rev. John
farrell tpreAched, on Sunday, from the text, "
have fought the good fight and few days
thereafter laid down in DEATH On the following
Sunday, Ezekiel Cooper preached his funeral
sermon from the same text.
Rev. Samuel Dougherty Of st. Georges, Phil
adelphia, came here to preach the dedlcatorIy
sermon after the enlargement in 1898. He sick
ened, however, before the hour OF service negah,
and died during the week. While this enlarge
ment was being made the congregation wor-
shipped in the City Hall.
In 1S41-2 during the ministry of Rev. Mr.
Gerry, the largest revival ever known IN VIII
mington was conducted In Asbury. This was
still before the erection of any other Meth odist
church, st. Psul'H not having an existence TIL
1914. At this meeting 900 persons we're convic-
| ted of sin, and were seeking pardon. fhe en-
tire upper end of the church was given mp to
the penitents, who crowded in wherever they
could find room. There are doubtless many
persons now living whose regenerated lives date
| from this meeting. Another extensive reviVa
occurred in 1890, during the first paste rate oil
the late Joseph Rusling.
| The oldest male member of the church, now
| living, is John Guyer, and the oldest female
merlber is Sallie Merrihew. William Niyens and
/ q. a. Hagany date the commencement or their
| religious life almost as far back Rs Mr. duyer,
but the latter seems yet in the full Vigor OF
| manhood.
The late Frederick Craig, father of David
| Craig, Esq, heard when he was boy. botl
| Geo. WHITFIELD the celebrated orator, and Capt
Thos Webb, of the British Army. The former
| when preaching, btOOu III pOItlcu tllhl wa
| built around the Shipley and Fourth st. 'front.'
| of the house still standing on the South Yves
/ corner of Attn and Shipley Sts., and at presen
owned by Henry Latimer, ESD. He heard Capt
| Webb in the woods at or near what ID now th'
| corner of 9Th and King Sts., and 1t WAS consid
cred by the staid villagers Of that day as some
thing very extraordinary to see an army oihcer
dressed in his rsgimentals, preaching the goSpe
OF peace.
| 4, 81, phan All aRl
the work, the Boanerges Of the Phil adelphi
Conference He was 3 bachelor and one OF the
meekest of men, but had no confidence in his
own extraordinary abilities. He died about 1873,
lamented by the whole church. He is yet OF
precious memory to all those who knew hun.
The late John Hagany, whose remains 81 eel
Just in the rear of the church, was, for mor'
than thirty years,a local preacher in this charge
His house was always the home for the ltlnerant
At the first conference ever held in wilmington
which was in 1882, he made preparation to enter
tain about twenty preAchers but found, whe
Conference assembled. that he could not &c
Them there being plenty OF accommodation Ia
all. Many found homes among sister denomin'
tions.
This first conference was held in the basement
or lecture room of st. Andrews Church, it beint
more central, and having been kindly offered b.
its vestry for that purpose. This, at that time
was considered very friendly act OF reciprocity
given in return for the use OF Asbury church
which had been offered by the Trustees thereof
when the nucleus of the present congregation
OF st. Andrews was being formed, and whel
they were yet without any house in which t
worship. This was under the pastorate of tn
, Rev DIR. Colt, who, perhaps, was their trf
pastor. They worshipped at Asbury onSabbati
afternoons.
The dedicatory services, tomorrow, will b
conducted by Rev. DIR. John Simms, of iBaltimor
who will preach in the morning. Rev. Jaco
Todd, of Grace, breaches in the afternoon. ID
Simms again fills the pulpit in the evening, an
an abundance of ministerial help will BIO pres
ent throughout the day.