Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-22
THE METHODIST PRorEsTANTs.


schh anu Gp W hHcfhI
The Pastor whom the President of
the Conference Refuses 10 Relieve.
From the fact that the regularly
appointed pastor, Rev. j. G. Sullivan, and
the ieader of the anti-sbouters, REV"
William Il. Potter, were both advertised
to preach at the Methodist Protestant
Church Sunday morning, something of
crowd collected on the corner of Seventh
and Walnut streets quite early in anticipa-
tion of u repetition of the scenes of the
preceding Sunday. A talk with the
trustees disclosed the truo state of the
case to be that the duplicate announce
ment was the result of Misrepresentation
as TO Mr.. Sullivan's course. lie had
written note on the preceding Sunday
evening in which he said that, with the
approval of the President of the Confer
ence, he would preach no more in that
church; and, not expecting him to be on
hand and not wishing to see the church
closed, some of the trustees had authorized
the announcement that Mr. Potter would
fill the pulpit.
But the President of the Conference
Rev. L. u. Valiant-was ip town on Wed
neAday and refused to relieve Mr.. Sulli-
van, and insisted on his holding the fort
valiantly. When informed that Mr.. Sulli-
van would preach, the anti-sbouters
decided to make no opposition to his
occupying the pulpit.
A PERTINENT INQUIRY
Some of the spectators, however, knew
nothing of this truce and, when the hour
arrived, filed into the church with the
expectation of seeing some kind of a con-
fiict There they sat eagerly waiting for
the trouble TO begin. The Rev. j. G..
Sullivan sat behind the pulpit; his rival
walked in end took seat well up front
and q stiffness as of breathless expectancy
followed. From neighboring yard came
the sound of housewife washing down
her alley, while her children disputed
noisily, as children will. over soma trivial
matter. Suddenly in through the open
window with startling dstinctuess came
the words. addressed 10 tie youngsters,
"For the Lords sake can't you stop your
fightiug" There WAS a whole rmon in
the exclamation under the circumstances.
THE DI.o5URsE.
MIR. Sullivan took for his text the words:
"And He marVeled because of their unbe-
lief" He is u young man, of unpretend-
ing appearance and he began in a low aud
hesitating voice that had not much life or
promise in it. As he proceeded with his
subject his hesitation disappeared, his
voice WAS raised until ii became one Of
volume aud power; his manner became
earnest, energetic, emphatic, yet utterly
devoid of extravaRapce or ranting; his
features grew impassoned his eyes
flashed and within five minutes from the
time he announced his text people who
heard him for the first time whispered to
each other, "There is something in that
man."
He spoke of unbelief and infidelity in
the world. He could readily comprehend
how a rational man may profess an utter
unbelief in the existence of Supreme
Being but failed to understand how, deep
down in his innermost heart he could
| entertain such belief. II do not believe, y
| said he, there is or can be an honest ip-
| fidel."
modified infidelity, corresponding to
| the "unbeliep of the text, is however,
very prevalent. II is not only in the
world, as distinguished from protesting
Christians, we find it; it is found in every
branch and rank and society Of the
church. There are times when the church
thinks itself almost entirely devoid OF this
unbelief, bu. it furnishes Christianity
every here and is the cause of the churcl
being no farther advanced towards the
grace of God to-day.
This unbelief is manifested in waning
of true faith in getting away frou
dependence upon God to do what is best
in desire to have certain things our owl
way and at our own time instead of beinl
willing to trust Him and accept what II
sends us Some seekers after religion
insist on being saved in their own way
when it is probable that no two men wer
ever converted in exactly the same manner
There is great difference betweel
faith and belief. Belief has reference t,
the Judgment; faith is willing to trust tha
Judgment to the uttermost.
HE STATES HIS POSITION.
At the close of his sermon Mr.. Sulliva,
said;
| wish to make a short explanation.
offered my resignation to the President of tn
Maryland Conference. but he will not accep
it, and | am compelled, of course, to continue
here. 1t is very unfortunate what has hap
pened. and might have been avoidet
altogether. have taken very little interos
| in it-up to certain extent ! have taken ~
interest in it, but not beyond that. And, Will
| am held here by the power of my confer
ence, which | cannot violate as it would be
very serious matter for me to strike agains
hundred or so ministers with the law ol
their side-I would be in sad predicament i
| attempted it-I wish to make this EXPLAIN
ton, because | offered it in good faith to tn
President snppoSing he would accept ii
There are great many here who do not wisl
4 had Il
be away than be here. | wish to spcal
plainly ; | do not wish it at all hidden and, q
there are two or three reporters here, | hop
they will not gloss it up too much but give
as | speak it. | am really compelled. AM
when man is compelled to do a thing h
must do it ii he possibly can. 1t might al
have been avoided. That is all l have to sa
to-day.
II suppose the olive branch wave
serenely now," said the EVERY EvENIN,
representative to Rev" William 4
Potter as the congregation we're dispers
ing.
Il don't know about that" said he
A SCRAP OF LOCAL HISTORY
''rbe devil seems to have been il thu
church ever since it was built" said on
of the by-standers, referring to the build
ing. IL WAS ertc'td ABOUT "a years hB
by Rev. William Kennard, father of th
well known dry goods merchant. He hs
charge of a congregation which previou
to that time worshiped in II little fran
building on the corner of Third au
Orange streets, where the Springer
Morley & Cause factory now stands.
Before Mr. Kennard, a Rev. "Keener
Cox ministtred to the spiritual wants c
the congregation. In early life Mr.. Go
stood in q dry goods store ard drove som
. hard bargains. A customer stopped j
one day who wanted cloth for good sui
Mr.. COX showed him some at $3. 30 pc
, yard, which the prospective purchase
saying he was anexcellent judge of clotl
contemptuously tossed aside and demande
to be shown something tine. The youn
salesman tumbled over large pile
goods and selecting the very same pie
offered 1t this time at 50 per yard al
made very good sale, realizing for b
employer a surplus profit of Sji Oh Il
transaction.
l THE ORIGINAL CHURCH.
, The old church stood ou ground {
: which the trustees paid ground Il nj und
leAse. The lease was about to "xpi
' ard could not be renewed, when on Il
, evening before the time was up, son
members of the church gathered and in
j very short time tore the building down