Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-09-02

very high compliments to his exhortive
talents and religious enthusiasm. But my
talk will be about John Wesley. Not a
new subject ii is true but one That will
bear the closest scrutiny; one that IL
worthy of the highest laudations, and one
which will ever possess an attraction on
an occasion like this A picture from IA
master artist is entered into large gallery
of paintings. On hurried inspection 1t
is consigned 10 some obscure aud unfavor-
able portion of the room. 1t attracts no
at ehtIUl tIom the paasar by, O.Ler
paintings, favored with superior position
and better light, attract crowds The
first picture remains in its lonely spot
collecting the filth around and remaining
uunotced until some conuoisseur happens
to see it. liz recognizes its merits and
forthwith advocates It's claim for a better
position. Wheu this is obta ned 1t shows
20 better advantage, and an inieresttd
thrnng Gaily i'spects 1t. rhu- | take the
painting of John Wesley to-day, not to
repAint tho, no, but to brush away the
cObSrbs and dust which bag collected
arOuhd it, aud to advocate its claims for "a
better position in the gallery of the
universe.
81 believe in the law OF Inheritance
believe that certain talents; that certain
procIivities and certain idiosyncrasies are
transmitted from parents to IL cir
children. believe that God raised up
John Wesley as the founder of the Metho.
dlem. Samuel Wesley the father of Jonn,
was a scholar. He was man supremely
loyal TO that monitor OF beipg, tine con-
science Susan Wesley possessed the
elements OF Independence, of personality;
Of the strictest type of individuality.
John Wesley had transmitted in him the
moral talents of his parents He was a
scholar, phiosopher of a cogitative
mind. He WAS far above medioxrity and
was abreast of the age. He was the first
to use the press for religious purposes on
popular scale. He did such wonderful
work that am amazed as to how he did
it. He preached tor 20 years three times
day aud for 30 years twice day.
Besides this hs wrote 2U0 original volumes,
founded schools and universities, and
attended to his various other duties. He
tconomiSed time by systematizing his
work, aud all young men would do well
to read the biography OF this mau, if ouly
to acquaint themselves with the habits of
this true philosopher; this true truth
seeker. John Wesley ever sought counsel
trom his mother. She taught him order,
loyalty TO duty and love of prayer. Meth
odists shcu look back TO Susan Wesley
as the fountain from which flowed the
blessed stream of living Methodism. She
should be crowned as the patron saint of
the church y
Many incidents, anecdotes and illustra-
tons that lengtheued the interest of the
subj 'ct were given by the speaker. He
descanted enthusically over the hymns OF
Charles Wesley, and praisi d him for his
poetical talents and his extensive know.
ledge OF Virgil, OF which he was said 10 be
ablu TO repent page after page by rote.
| Wesley made Il mistake when he married.
| His wife was lower and of coars
nature than himself. She was of q qnarrel.
some turn and not at all suited to him.
| On one occasion diff ;ulty arose ana she
| chased john and Charles into room and
locked them up She began to pour out
the vials CT her wrath in vituperativt
phrases Charles stood it awhile and ther
| commenced repeating Virgil, word oi
| which she knew nothing about. Page
after page he went over until Mrs Wesley
| llEtu Ou htli ltt tubtu UuL Vi
their prison. She was thus conquered by
! Latin.
In conclusion DR.. Guard dwalt at length
OIL the helpers of Wesley, among whom
were Thomas Walsh, aouutrymau o
himself, Samuel Rradburn, Henry Moore
James Rogers, John Wilson and man'
| others One fact which he mentioned il
worthy of note. Wesley's greatest helper
were cobblers. His perorstinp, which il
too long for production here, WAS tittint
| desert to the intellectual feast which h,
spread bt fore the assemblage.
wH) WE'RE PRESENT.
| Among the prominent men seated oi
the stage platform, were Rays. DR.. Guard
DR.. Edwards. Mr.. Hank, Judge Levi
Iruvers, DR.. Il. j. Price, Prof. Henry
Breerwcod, relative OF Freeborn Garret
son, Rev. j. Z. Nicholson, Rev. DIR
Egrll, Rev. Spry Shermon, ED, William
j. Oratt, ESD, R.v j. T. CmIk, Rev. j
L. Kidney, Rev. Francis Qligley, Rev
W. S. Robinson, Rev. T. L Terry, Rev
William Smith, James Gore, E.q au,
mary others.
III meeting then adjourned to re
assemble at 3 O'Clock.
DIR. EDWARDS trEAks.
| At 30 Il short experience meeting, o
Mrthodist5 only, was held in tn" audi
totium OF the VI, II Church
by 3 O'clock every available space WA
occupied in the grove nnd there was no
standing room flr the immense audience
The exercises were opened with singin
and payer by Rev. Mr.. Jones, after whicl
Rev. Df Edwards, of the Methods
Episcopal ,'huich South was introduce,
by thr Chairman His theme was tn
Destructive Mission Of Me,boiism in ih
World. First, how did it come here
Under this head he went over in hlie
nearly the same sroand tfGversed by Rev
DIR Gauld in ihe morning The first Metho
dist preaching in tis country was don
hy Philip Euibnry, in his dwelling nea
Nv York. Capt. Webb joined him, Hi
sm,li congregation continued t
increase, until no room conl
be found sufficiently lHrge accom-
MEDIATE them st. Johns Church
,s then bnlt fnr their use. About tn
same time Robert S.rewbridge, also Of til
Methodist persuasion, constructed u iittl
log church in Frederick county, Md.
whrh stands TO this day in "a tolerabl
good state of preservation. 1t il mHtte
of serious doubt MS to which of the tw
churches was tirst hullt These were tn
crude begiuniugs from which have spruui
astonishing results. Several minister
were sent from England, among whou
were Billmore and Bsndman, also tranci
Asbury, pioneer Methodist preacher, VIII
travelled from Maine to Georgia, maxim
the round once in every ~ months.
Has the Methodist church achieved an
succegs? Yes, aud Of the most ahundan
kind Preachers have multiplied, mem
brrs have multiplied. churches have multi
piled nnd every departments of the churc
work has shown development that
unpr, cedeutetl. 0ne hundred years as
the mpmbership of all Methodist denomi
nations did not exceed . 600. Now til
Nj. e church North and South alone hay
over 5000, 600, while there are owe
3 900. 900 members of the various branohe
of Methudism. This is the luxurious out
gro Sih of the seed sown one hundre
years ago. At that time the Methodist
had not u respectable church. Now the
possess over one-third of all the churc
property in the world. We have founde
and possess more colleges and universitie
than any other denomination. If the rat
of increase continues the same, under th
same conditions, in hundred years
come Methodsm may then claim as man
adherents as this vast country contains
which is 80, 1000, 900.
1 have told you of the planting {
Methodsm, of its growth and progres
and of its future prospects, Now, has I'll
church mission and, if so, has it futile
that mission? Taylor, philosopher, :
years ago said that it had, and that it ha
| ,,arfos,,aJ tho funotio,, sat apart for 70 +