The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-04
A CHURCH wTTA A HISTORY.
Celebrating the Birthday of Ameri-
can 5fethodtsm.

| SSA NsstAGnbSAhs
Oh [New York Timesl
The old John-street Methodist Episco-
pal Chureh-better known as "the cradle
of American Methodism''- celebrated
yesterday the one hundred and thir-
teenth anniversary of its foundation by
a number of special services. The cele-
bration began at 9o'clock with union
love-feast in the lecture-room of the old
church, conducted by Bishop W. L. Har-
ris. In the audience were a very large
number of the old members of the church,
many of whom spoke. Several said they
had been members of the John-street
Church for over fifty years, and one
woman said she had joined the society
sixty-six years ago. Bishop Harris was
assisted by number of clergymen, who
had been pastors Of the church. AT
1890 a. M. Rev. c. ID. Foss, President cf
the Wesleyan University at MiddletOwn,
Ct, preached to very large congrcga-
ton in the main audience-room.
His text was from Acts ii, 80. "This
Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all
are witnesses" The lesson drawn from
this text by DR.. Foss was that the truth
of Christianity is attested by positive per-
sonal experience. A "reunion meeting of
the old members" was announced for 3
o'clock, but at the last moment the char
acter of the meeting was changed, and
short addresses we're made by Bishop
Harris, who presided, and the Rev. Drs.
Cyrus d. Foss and Chas. III. Fowler, edi-
tor of the Christian Advocate, and the
Rev. Mr. Ca,welf, of Oswego, Il. Y. In
the evening the Rev j. Q. Peck, D.D.,
pastor of st. Johns Methodist Episcopal
Church, in Williamsburg, preached to a
full congregation.
The service was preceded by prayer
meeting for young persons, presided over
by Mr.. John Bentley. Special collec-
tions were taken at the various services
for the benefit OF the church, and the
contributions were liberal. Among the
ministers who were present, besides those
named, were the Rev. DIS. Sanford Hunt,
of the Methodist Book Concern; William
H. De Puy, one of the editors of the
Christian Advocate, and A. Lowry, of
this city; the Revs. 7. d. Littlcwood,
Levi Perry, A. S. Francis and the VEN
cradle Harvey Camp, of Ohio, who was
the means of bringing Bishop Harris into
the Methodist Church, and the Rev. B.
T. Abbott, the present pastor Of the
church A large number Of prominent
laymen were also present during the day,
among them being Mr.. J. NJ. Phillips,
General Treasurer of the Missionary So
cietv of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The original John-street Church was
the first Methodist Church built in
America. The first society was organ
lied in 1866 by Philip Embury and Mrs.
Barbara Hick. It's meetings were at first
held in Embury's private house. The
congregation viii h listened to the first
sermon, preached by him 113 years ago
Yesterday, consisted of four persons-Mr
and Mrs. Hick, John Lawrence (Mr
Hicks hired man) and Betty, a colored
servant. The little society held its first
public preaching services in rigging loft
located at what is now known as No. 120
William street, which was then called
"Horse-and-cart street." The building
stood until 1854, when it was torn down
to give place to more substantial struc-
ture. On the Doth of March, 1853, the
company of Methodists had grown large
enough, under Embury's leadership, to
warrant the leasing Of lot and the
building Of a church.
! The first edifce, which stood on the
site of the present structure, was built Of
stone, faced with blue plaster, and was
sixty by forty feet. There were no backs
to the seats, and the galleries were
reached by a rude ladder. The Church
was dedicated as Wesley Chapel" De-
tober 30, 1868, the dedicatory sermon
being preached by Philip Embury, from
the text: "Sow to yourselves in right
eousness reap in mercy: break up your
fallow ground, for it is time to seek the
Lord, till He come and rain righteous
ness upon YOU" Two years later the So
ciety built a parsonage Oh the ground
adjoining the Church, and this was the
pioneer Of Methodist parsonages. y It was
an humble wooden building, two stories
high, with narrow stoop in front. The
lot on which the Church stood was bought
in November, l77o, for f6OO.
The building was large enough for the
congregation for number of years, but
in 1917 it was replaced by larger and
better one. The latter was taken down
in 1871, and the present building erected
in its place. The pulpit and chancel rails
which were used in the first church are
still in use in the Sunday-school room OF
the present church, and number of the
original timbers are also a part of the
building. A large clock, presented tc
the first church by John Wesley, the
founder Of Methodism, is still keeping
excellent time in the church, and mum
Der OF venerable relics, such as the pulpit
Bible and the brass candlesticks used ir
the first church, are carefully kept will
the records of the Society. The John
street Church is the only house of wor
ship owned by the Church at large. By
special charter from the Legislature, it
control is vested in Board Of Trustee
elected by the General Conference o
the Methodist Church, which meets one'
in four years.