Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-16
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yaiedictvry Mt AsbIsrs.

~ Mn e1UpB's FAREWELL AN fMMENsE CON
GsrdArios--BEv.Ew CT TUE WORK CT THREE
MRS.
s,,ry church WAS full TO oyolfiowing, last
,45t orc hour before the time for service
F.i,ed. Hundreds failed to secure admission.
j,,e services commenced at I O'Clock The
a,iioDce presented most imposing spectacle,
~ available space being occupied eitL.r witil
elasis on IL persone standing.
lno preacher read porlions OF the 2oth chapter
III Acta D. an appropriate Lesson, aud delivered
l.eourse consisting mainly OF n review OF the
~ llree yeara of the Asbury Charge.
The npehher saii
We ind the present n difficult time to
,t,acit. leoHla are assembled to look upon tho
eee6ef foi The laet time. Tho speakers voice
ullem!ud You of many occasions, some pleas
att .ome sad The preacher himself is won
..Ing WHO his next people will bo. His heart
orc With tho thought OF parting. lie 10 hall
si4rte ling with the ltinerant system, question
Ao7 iur lie had done his duty confused BY
IL. ctoytling recullec.ions OF three years. Yet
i alose feelings could he mastered, what
.,sud time to preach when we are gathered IN
t,sleation for the i st time, perhaps.
Ne have dreaded the llour--tried 10 get away
f,n1it nave Thought OF David and Jonathan.
Mi ttlt like saying with Ruth whittier thon
j.alest will DWELL" but cur eve turus toward
Snrrna and we see an august bishop with the
t.rii.le years rule in his hand, and we must
.v4llr submit.
Wu can talk appropriately, t'lis evening, with
,sying somewhat OF ourself. We feel, however,
i5.e Ike taking some inappropriate theme, for
Yg Y!iglt then delude ourself into feeling this to
te the lith of March 1872, instead of 1915. We
iytl lae Panl at Miletus, standing on tue deck
u t!.e ship dropping ont with the tide, go ng to
lgalsalem uot knowing what may beiall him
tliese.
Allow ua to review the work OF the tlree years
aal lfa results. We have preached about 500
-.iiunns Our gospel has been the old gospel
La shool the world i'll Wesley's days. We have
ttl TO giye it plain illustrations, using Tor TINS
nu,li from any quarter, for alltrnth may bo made
ia serve Chrlsts gospel. We have tired b1th ~
.,mone lectures and protraeted meetings to fe cl
tug responsibilities and perform our work earn.
rsflV Pastoral yisitations is almost cut OF the
d0catiou in this great change, but we have sue
tcoltd in laying about 2iO0O enlls, making
iHrl AZ religious rs possible. Inc attention
10 J!ia sick and upon funerals las been large
share Ot our work, our sick list frequently con
j5.Hns over 80 names and at some seasons tnn-
oas were daily aud often twice per day. Over
,II thiGiren have been baptzed, and tho small
II. CANS laVc been numerous sometimes TO en-
,sgist-m mclit In the midst of these labors the
l.a-lor- social life has had to be tacrliced to
lag, and pulpit preparation has sometiiAes
loei impossible.
t h6le class, where about 80 pcrsons have
es-emtled to study the word Of God the Ladies
Fni Pastoi's christian union, which has done
most efficient service in visiting the sick, reiey
ing the poor, &c the chl.drens religious meet
ta!s III Which l00 children have been instructed
lv the pastor in person also a church temper
Anco society, and meeting for the promotioii
nt the higher christian fe--all of which have
hten organized dnriug tile past three years.
DuiiNg tins time, $50 have been received INTO
tue church on profession OF faith, 10 have taken
t.itlicate to distant places, 40 bave gone to the
clutoh above. The number now IN the church
$50, besides 100 probationers. The house has
reen improved at cost of Sll 200
IN our pulpit mlnistratlons we have tried to
rlake hands with Presbyterians, Bartlsts, Epis-
cQpalians aud Friends, many of whom have been
frequent attendants upon our ministry. we are
glateful for the very many marks OF esteem OF
wi.leh we Lave been made the recipient. lley
tiall constantly remind us OF the pleasant lnter.
el4rso of the past three years. We thank God
,. ec.Hlly for health to do the work OF this I'M
4'nee charge, imperfectly done, We
we'll know, and for the peace
ail, union We have enjoyed. There has no
teen ripple upon the water We have attend
"a 2 quarterly conferences aud SO lenders meet
iHEs and have not heard ore unkihd word
How good and how pleasant for brethren t'
!Heti together in unity Satan has seafcel.
lLoNcL ia unon us, or If he has, he has fount
3, church so full. or the singing loud ant
earnest, and the prayers 80 hot, tliat he did no
snow himself.
our dear old Asbury has been Ike some grant
u-i organ, all the keys in tune, grave Official
.'Ihi7Ihng inc pasS, general intmpsIsiiP W
geuor probatoners the alto, and the childrel
the soprano. We have not played 70 eklliull
some could have Done but we have not beei
Nithout tile music sometimes with all the stop
mt, and playing with both hand, both feet
suee swell ana pedal baes-a little boiHterou
. those who have been Use to an 1Eliah harE
9at all in place because offered FROM fu
l.eert to the God who made the thunder.
Now we take our hands of the key board an
clte up our seat to our successor. May Go
n m
itN ever attend the dear friend of rOld Asbury.