The New York herald., 1875-11-01
JOHN STREET METHODIST EPISCO-
PAL CHURCH

CELEBRATION OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND NINTH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST METHODIST
CHURCH IN AMERICA
Yesterday will long be remembered by the members
the old Methodist Episcopal church in John street
as a day Of iervent worship, prayer and praise. The
occasion that called the hrong the venerable build
ing which the first Methodist church erected on
this Continent was the hundred and ninth ami
versary Of the services.
The services lasted during the entire 6ly, beginning
with love feast at nine A. NJ, in which a number Of
ministers from sister churches and many Of the old
members Of the church RECORDER HAsKETT SAYS
POSSIBLY MAY HEREAFTER INVITE POLITICAL ASIMosTY
ny DIFFERENTIATION; YET, WHILE PRIVATELY MY
syMPATHIEs ARDENT ~ THEIR DEMOCRATIC
TENDENCIES, | SHOULD BE REcREASr TO MY JUDICIAL
INDEPENDENCE AND SENSE or Duty ANSWERED
OTHERWISE THAN | HAVE now DoSE.n who have
moved to other places participated
At half past ten the services conducted by the
pastor Rev. n. J. Cheney assisted BY other ministers.
Upon the platform were Bishop Peck Rev Benoni T.
Ives Rev Mr. kette Presiding Elder OF this district
Rev. Mr.. Dunn and others. The services were opened
by prayer and the singing Of the hymn beginning
Jesus shall reign where'er the
Does his successive journeys run.
After which Bishop Peck chose for his text Acts II.
20-'So nightly the word Of God aud prevailed
and preached learned aud lengthy discourse on the
subject Of church growth and spiritual development.
The preacher endeavored to impress upon his hearers
the truth that church development does not consist in
numerical increase OF membership but in the
growth OF the holy spirit in the hearts Of the members
What we wanted was growth of vitality Sucn was
the nature OF the growth of the Apostolic Church The
minister spoke Of the ytalization OF the Word Of God
and its imperishahity, and impressed upon his congre
cation the tact that the word OF the Lord contn
ualy growing in these latter days well as in the
Apostolic times when men prosecuted for the
Lords sake He concluded by briefly referring 70
OF the interesting events connected with the ntroduc
tion OF Methodsm IN tins country.
The sermon over the Rev. B. l. Ives addressed the
congregation Temporal Affairs. = He stated that
this church the property OF Individual congrega
ton, but sustained by tie General Conference,
which appoints The trustees II had been instrumental
in bringing many sinners to God. The brethren who
keep this dear cradle of Methodsm and rock
ing require So 600 for it's support during the year and
he proposed 10 ask everybody TO sit st until
raised Mr. Ives then selected secretaries and
collectors to circulate among the audience sub.
script.on cards For hour Mr.. Ives
begged and implored the brethren TO give, give to
the Lord, and BY amusing sales and eloquent appeals
he succeeded at this service in having 81 600
subscribed or paid III IN sums of from s. to s2C0
AT half past two 7. NJ another meeting was held at
which addresses made by various ministers and a
further sum collected he celebration Of the found
ing of the church closed by at half past
seven by Rev DR.. Ives.