Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-01-25
ASBURY NJ. E. CHURCH.
The Mother Of Our Methodist Churches
ADMINISTRATIONS Sunday.

ing was erected and dedicated which was
subsequently, twice enlarged and improved.
From the fact that Bishop Asbury preach
I'd the dedication sermon In the building
erected In 1889, the church has been
known by that name ever since and to
the end OF time will doubtless retain itand
thus perpetuate the memory Of one OF the
pioneers Of Methodlsm, aud most
austere, unninching christian.
During its history, Ashury Church mas
had ffty-hve ministers assigned 70 II.
Tha frst was William Jessup IN 1889, and
the last, Enoch Stubs In 1872. Several
OF It's b5 pastors are now living.
The church has always been very
popular one aud to those who like to wor-
ship with the primitive simplicity Of Its
founders, AsbuY has invariably been
chosen for this purpose. Il has been the
scene Of large resivals and has grown In
membership from a score to Its present.
large aud Increasing number Of communi-
sants.
During last year 1t was decided to make
further repairs aud improvements upon
the church building, and In August last
the work Of renovation commenced. Up
10 a few days ago workmen have been
constantly engaged there, and by lersever-
ance every improvement contemplated was
made and the building pronounced ready
fer rehabilitation.
The following are the changes and i'm
provements that have been made
Two additional doors have been placed
IN the trout on Walnut street, and the
windows have all been made semi-circular
At the top. The gallery IN front has been
lowered. At the back of the church a
recess has been made for the pulpit, and
the stairway has been entirely changed,
being reversed so as 10 afford, with the
Two new doorways, better egTess and
inRrsss. The altar Is entirely new, all
Of solid walnut. The benches, also OF
solid walnut, are new and cushioned.
The whole of the audience room Is
completed, and the gas hxturs are new
and considered beautiful. The aisles and
yeatibules nre covered with cocoa mating.
A new roof has also been Put on, with
large eoruice. Down stairs the elass-roOmi
have all been reftted and made exceeding
~ comfortable, the seats Of the uppei
story having been removed to them. II
the lecture room the wooden pillars hav'
been replaced by light iron columns.
The whole building has teen painted
inside AID out; inteTiorly 1t has beer
slaborately frescoed. The Old walls wer'
found TO be unusually strong, and Therefore
improvements was sl2, 900, which Is con
sldered q very moderate expense, SOM
suppssing that $4,000 or $4,000 would
be required to do the work.
The carpenters were Kerns & Webb
brieklayers and plasterers, PERKINS & Wei
die frescoer, c. Lehoran upholster, G
Aaean painters, Henderson & Carlisle
gas fixtures, GawthIop & Brother.
The Church Building Committee, unde
whose supervision the work was done,
Nessrs. Charles Wood, Samuel Casperson
Il. Helsler, J. j. McMullen and L. Kattl
Appropriate seriptlral quotations on tn
Exterior are numerous, aud are tasteful
painted.
Yesterday morning at l0< o'clock tn
sAureh was literally packed with peopll
and hundreds turned away unable to gal
Aamittane=. Rev. DR.. Sims, Of Baltimor
pTesehed in the morning, and Rev. N
Atwood, former pastor Of the churel
made short address.
An interesting event of this service WI
short address by Rev. Fatker Boehm,
Baltimore, an aged divine ninety-eigl
years old, who visited this city sevent,
ave years ago, and preached his first sc
mon In the church in the year 1900.
In the afternoon Rev. Jacob Toe
preached, and 10 the evening Rev. D
sims, Of Baltimore, again delivered
sermon.
Collections were taken up in the NOR
fhg, afternoon and evening amounting
about $1,000, which with 81 2OU alreaG
subscribed, paid tor the entire improv
ments so that the congregation enter q
building free from debt.
In the evening Rev. Mr.. Atwood, {
behalf Of the Trustees Of the church, pI
scented Aessrs. r. Hesler and Chafl
Wood with valuable book as tes
monisl for the time and personal ate
lion given BY the above named gentleml
in experimenting the Improvements.
The pastor and congregation Of I
church may well feel proud Of the wo
they have done, and Of the SUGGEST
manner In which they have col
pleted the task Of remodelling and beau
Tying the time-honored edfce.
Monday evening the lecture room OF !
Church was crowded by both sex
10 about equal numbers, 10 hear the az
Rev. Father Boehm preach a short s
mon. After singing and prayer, the pas
OF Asbury, Rev. Enoch Stubbs, made
few remarks 10 reference to the co
mepeement OF the annual protracled me
ings, which had been delayed by the
modelling Of the building. He said tn
meetings concern, more especially, tn
who are not Christians at all. Fat
Boehm IL oae year older than our repub
and within Two years and Two months
completing life Of one century.
Father Boehm Invited attention 10
te1t, "The Lord is good (muni1cen)
strong hold In the day Of trouble, au.
khoweth them that trust 10 Him Al
referring to the destruction Of .,iney
he said, because tie Lord Ia good, nj
take advantage TO 20 on IN rebellion.
Lord Is good 10 al. Ais attributes In
trsths, Justice, mercy, government,
ia tie administration of His governm,
We should not call that among mel
good government II the guilty were trea
rs innocent, aud the innocent like
guilty Justice Is administered upon
guilty. Then 1t should be II terror to
sinner. When the sinner is consigne,
eudlgss misery, the Lord Is good in
administration Of his government.
because Of the goodness Of tod, the
Ber ought to wake up and call on the l.
for mercy. It was impossible for dealt
hold Ihe Saviour. He WAS so pure
sPOtless. These who approach Him
tails mercy through faith In his name
their 10y and consolation. The story
Ike TALLER finding the prison door 0
but AL the prisoners before him and
narrative OF Daniel In the Hons den v
illustrative Of quick conversion and
faith They who are determined 10
sinners, should net depend on the good
OF God. Because lie is good, they
be loaf forever aud ever II they die
penitent. Father Boehm said he c,
speak from experience. The presence
the Lord Is comfort to him in old
and il was In youth.
Amer Rev. j. H. Lightboume had II
some remarks, prayer meeting was bel
"reminiscences Of Asbury.
Asssrl. Editors - The re.openinl
Asbury VI. 2. Church, after being reu
sled and mOdernized, calls 10 mind N
things otherwise almost forgotten.
have seen an ordinary looking aiticl
furniture Of nearly or quite Il hun
years Of age that Is much priced as
Of the bygone, and particularly becaus
It's connection with the family reco
TsRs Of the venerable Bishop Asbury.
The owner Of this article Ia 81
staRd) told US that Bishop Asbury
upon that stand while preaching IN \
was Fsrra's meeting house, tue 1T
which IL occupied by a later struC
kuewn as Bethel, situated In Little Z
Hundred, about equi distant from sm
and Dover, In this State. The tim
thls occurrence IL sand TO have been
latter part Of 1872, or early in 1918.
way Of explaining the necessity Of
sitting upon so odd a seat, the ladl
forms us the Bishop was very feeble,
Unable TO stand, and the pulpit so hip
70 hide him from view If upon an ordi