Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1879-12-10
For the Smyrna Times
Methodist History on the Peninsula.

Mr.. Richard Bassett, a LAWYER from
Dover, was going into Maryland on profes
! slonal business when he stopped at tho
| mouse OF Mr.. Thomas Whites to stay 9
night with him. lie discovered there were
other visitors at their house and incurred
OF Mrs. White who these men were, who
were dressed in sable garment She re-
plled, ~! they are some of the best men
IN the world. They are Methodist preach.
ers." lie seemed to be alarmed, and said
then cannot stay here tonight" She
| replied, yes, you must stay, they will
not hurt you" When supper was served
be was introduced to the preachers.
and an interesting conversation follow.
eG. When Mr.. Bassett left, he invited
Mr. Asbury more from custom than desire
10 call on him in case he visited Dover.
when he returned home he informed
his wife that he had been in the company
OF Methodist preachers, and had invited
one OF them to his house. She was greatly
troubled but was quieted when he told her
that 1t was not likely he would come"
In lI79 Nj. Aahury called on Mr.. Bns.
sett, and met with DR.. McCiaw, Rector of
the Established Church at Dover, Governor
rodney and Others who were especially
invited on his account. They became so
deeply interested in conversation that they
continued it until late hour. This was
the beginning of a friendship which lasted
thlrty-slX years"
Alter Mr.. Thomas White became Meth.
oulst ne went to Dover and stayed all night
with MT. Bassert. lie was looked upon as
Tory by the rabble who went in search of
MIN. They came to Mr.. Bassett's door,
VINO was at that time Captain of Militia
(OmnanV Ho
Win ms sword and pistols, and when the
mob came for his guest he told them that
ne was IN his house-that he was no more
Vi i0ry than any of them, and that they
would have to walk over his dead BODY 10
get him. The raging rabble retired with.
out their victim We gather from the
above how soon mob can be ouieted even
ny the courage OF one respectable man.
And when it gets in the ascendency there
Is hidden power that urges it forward
hen Mr. Bassett's wife and her sisters
were converted, he thought after he had
got through with some business at Lewis
town, he would sell his property and move
TO some distant part of the country, to get
clear OF the noisy Methodists. While at
court at Lewistown he had q remarkable
dream which bought his sins to his recollec-
tlon. lie awOke in raptures and dedicated
himself to God. His wife, who had been
earn estly praying for him at home, dreamed
the sanae night that God had taken her
husband into His favor. When he came
nome be Joytully related what the Lord
had done for him. She replied, | knew
II, Tor the blessed Lord made it known to
ME. While she lived. she was BRIGHT
example OF holiness, and died praisinp
God"
" Wesley Chapel in Dover was erected in
1884, principally by Mr. Bassett's means.
at winch time he had not Joined the Meth.
odlsts lie was united to them soon after
the organization Of the NJ. f. Church. He
moved to his estate on Bohemia Manor.
and while there he had two campmeetinss
IN beautiful grove on his land a mile
from his mansion. After these camo.
meetings the Manor became famous for
Methodism; in almost every family thew
were found, Wherever his influence ex.
tended he did not suffer drop of the dis.
hHed h2'tor to be used. His house and table
were very plain; while he was doing all in
his power for the cause of God"
In 1887 Mr.. Bassett was a member of
the Convention which formed the Constitu
ton Of the United States of America. soon
after he was member of Congress: also
governor of Delaware State. In the latter
end OF his life, he was Judge of the United
States District Court for Delaware. He
died in 1915. His funeral sermon was
preached by the Rev. Ezekiel Cooper"
The above are concentrated extracts from
Ledmun's History of Methodism. | have
heard so much of Bassett from the preach.
ers, and aged people of former years that
am pleased to have an opportunity of
making our young people acquainted with
his history.
Mr. Richard Bassett was the great-grand.
father of Hon. Thomas F. Bayard of this
state. S. P. Mason.
SMYRNA, Nov. Both, 1873.