Daily Republican., 1879-07-14

BISHOP NICHOLSJN'S REPORT
HAs Visits "a tho Reformed Epise.
pal Chu reh OF ske Covenant
The Anaiversary Nexs sunday.
In the 'tAppssl" Of July lst, wa fn
an abstract OF Bishop Nicholson's = repo
Of the different oh urches he visited
his jurisdiction. Speaking OF his visit
to Wilmington he says:
"Sunday, August 18th, ! spent
Wilmington, Del, whittier went on
visit Of encouragement to the earnes
little band Just starting forth as R.
formed Episcopalians. Bishop Fallow
had kindly ministered to them for tw
Sundays. They were poor In thi
worlds goods, and are still SO. | foun
that they had begun in the right way
with strong convictions Of evangelica
truth with clear perceptions Of tn
necessity of reformation Of ths Pro
testapt Episcopal Church in csrtail
particulars, and with earnest desire
for greater spirituality Of mind. The,
had b-gun with Sunday School an
prayer meetings, and already the,
numbered about one hundred scholars
and their prayer meetings were warm
hearted and full of interest.
His next visit was on Thursday even
ing, October "a, in which he says:
again visited the Church Of the Cove
nant. at Wilmington, and admitted J
L. Estlin to the Diaconate. We wor
shipped, on this occasion, in an oil
market house which the city had aban
donsd, but which, as the only place OBJ
tainable by them, our little band o
earnest workers there had rented ant
fitted up for their regular services. BIZ
ing too poor to pay for the fitting up o
the building, they did it with their owl
hands, removing the butchers stalls
scrubbing the floor, washing it with
turpeDtine, painting, rtc. 1t now had
the look Of a comfortable place of wor
ship, although a very humble one.
They had placed in the building
about five hundred chairs. From first
to last they had been assisted in their
work by the gift of twenty-five dollars
worth Of lumber; by the gift of a por-
tion of tho chairs. and by the gift OF a
few prayer, books; all else they had
done themselves, meanwhile some OF
even their small number being with
out secular employment, and receiving
nothing toward their daily livelihood
On this occasion of the ordination OF
Mr.. Estlin, an astonishingly large con
was present; it was a week
evening, and yet it seemed as three,
tourths of the chairs we're filled"
On visiting the church ON Thursday
evening, January 23rd, he says:
Thursday evening, January 23d,
1879, administered the rite Of con
lirmation in the Church of the Cove
nant, Wilmington, Del, when twenty
one persons made confession Of Christ.
very much enjoyed the services on
this occasion, because Of their felt spir-
Ituality. The earnest devotional
tae hearty responses, the
sympa .hetic attention, the manifest
'pirit Of prayer, were all unusually
delightful and refreshing. On my way,
evening, to the railroad depot to ret irn
nome, being accompanied by leading
member Of this little church, the latter
aid to me at is now more than six
months since partook of the Lords
supper. know what the Lords Sup
,er means, and | attach no supersti,ious
Importance to it but it means Of grace,
nd do earnestly desire to have it
administered in our Parish"
said to him: "Why have you not
lad it ?" He replied: "We have not
he communion vessels with which to
.dminster it. Upon the starting Of our
work. here, we made a resolve, which,
IS yet, has not been broken, that We
Vould never 60 into debt; and we have
'een too Strengthened in our means to
make the necessary purchase. On
he next evening, at the prayer meet
ng of my own church, gave brief
ccount OF my visitation to this, parish,
nd related the conversation abov.
eierred to. The story did not fall on
istless ears; and, within a week, the
title church was put in possession of
that it needed.
His last visit was on Thursday even
ng, May sth, referring to this visit h4
ays: "Thursday evening, May Sth,
gain visited the Church of the Cove
ant, Wilmington, DEL, when twelve
ersous made a ''renewed Offering of
nemselves" to God. They had removed
leir places of worship from the old
larket house reformed,-which they
ere obliged to leave, their lease hay
lg expired,--to more church-like
and every way more comfort.
bls. Their only opportunity was a
nondam Methodist church, which lat
rly, however, had been turned into
leater, was dilapidated, and had be-
'ms literally a filthy den. But it was
ell situated. They succeeded in rent
g it, aud went to work Wit. a will to
1t it in decent religious order.
| found proper house of worship
ran, neat, bright and cherry; WITH a
easant and conmodious basement for
lnday school and prayer meetings,
Id al audience room above, containing
70 hundred sittings. God has won
rfully blessed this parish with spirit
'lity of feeling, simplicity Of purpose,
ID energy of character. May the
,ly Spirit continue to teach and sane !
y this beloved people and their de- E
ted pastor the Rev. J. l.. Estlin. +
The Sunday school OF the Reformed r
'iscopal Church of the Covenant will
ebrate their first anniversa v on Sun
Y next, July 10th. All are cordially
vited.
All Over q Par OF Pants. 4
The first case tried last Saturday