National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-28
THE DAY OF JUBILEE.
Freed from the Incubus Of Debt That Pressed
So Long Upon 1t,
The Metropolitan M. {. Church Cele-
brates Its OeIiverance,
Eloquent Sermon Of Bishop Simpson on the Prophe-
sizes.


Success in the final accomplishment Of any
desirable or important enterprise is generally
attained by slow and laborious effort. This
is prominently true of the Metropolitan NJ.
T.. church enterprise. Hence the social
gathering of its friends and patrons yesterday
in a5general jubilee meeting in celebration of
the payment of its debt. Much credit is due
to those who have lately put forth an extra
effort for the final liquidation of the debt upon
this edifice projected originally not as Il local
enterprise, but upon the presumptive liber-
ality of the church at large, sanctioned and
Endorsed by the general conference at two or
three of its quadrennial sessions.
A brief and concise statement of the earlier
history of this enterprise will not be amiss at
this time, especially as many of the original
projectors have passed the boundary line that
divides time from eternity. Some years prior
TO the late war nine gentlemen connected
with the Wesley Chapel M, L. church of this
city conceived the idea Of erecting memorial
Methodist church at the national capital in
some prominent location, to be built by tho
voluntary contributions of the people of the
United States. The names Of the projectors
of the enterprise were Samuel Norment, NJ.
". Emery, Y. IL. Lane, IluOCk MCNcW, WI
G. Deale, Thomas Purcell, c. w. Botelcr, Il.
H. Havener, and DIR. f. Howard. These
gentlemen were all men of prominence and
standing in the community, and were noted
for the zeal they had manifested for the i'd
vanCement of tho interests of the church in
this district. A meeting was called, and
after some elaboration 1t was decided to
buy the lot at the corner of Four-and-
a-half and G streets northwest, being
very eligible and valuable site,
and particularly as it was only one block from
Pennsylvania avenue, the great thoroughfare
of the metropolis, and within short walk Of
the principal hotels of the city, and not very
distant from many of the public buildings
Sufficient amount having been subscribed and
collected the lot was purchased without delay
by these nine gentlemen, and the foundation
commenced, Mr. NJ. q. Emory being the con-
tractor. At subsequent meeting Mr..
Samuel Norment, a prominent layman,
and junior member of the board was
selected to visit the Baltimore annual confer
ence at their meeting in Hagerstown, Nd,
and present to that body the views and plans
OF the projectors. He was also authorized to
ask of the conference, as the ruling power of
the Methodist Church in this vicinity, the
acceptance of deed to this property, and to
become the directing head of the enterprise.
He performed his duty we'll. By invitation
he appeared on the floor of the conference and
made an eloquent and stirring speech in sup
port OF the undertaking, both as regarded its
feasibility and dcsrableness, and was warmly
backed by Revs. John A. Collins, N. Will
son and Henry Slicer, the latter of whom was
appointed general agent to present the
cause TO the Methodists of the country at
large, and prosecute with all possible
vigor tho work before him. This
he did for year or two until
he had fall on the ice in Philadel-
phia, by which he was so seriously injured
that another agent, Rev. DIR. Ryan, had to
take his place. The foundation walls were
first completed in 1860, when the great trou-
bles Immediately preceding the war COM
menced causing a large amount of the sub
scriptiOns, especially those from tho south,
to be made unavailable, and the trustees had
to suspend the work and abandon for while
its prosecution. 1t was, however, revived
again some year or two after the close OF the
war, and the church, recollecting the pledge
of the general CONFERENCE.-The: "rhat we
erect in the metropolis of the nation
commOdious church edifce, which ould
be regarded as O correctional monument to
our beloved Methodism" again put forth
efforts in this behalf, and on the twenty
eighth of February, 1862 it was dedicated by
Bishop Simpson, assisted by Rev. w. NJ. Pun
shon, of Canada Rev. T. NJ. Eddy, of Chicago
and Rev. DR.. De HAS, in the presence of au
immense audience, among them the presi-
deut, several mCmbers of his cabinet, the
justices of the supreme court, and many other
distinguished persons. The trustees of the
church were U. S. Grant, s. p. Chase, Samuel
Norment NJ. g. Emery, L. A. Lutz f. How
ard, II. l.. Tullock, and Samuel Fowler, all Of
whom are still living, with the exception OF
Chief Justice Chase and Thomas l.. Tullock.
Many of these gentlemen and others worship
ing there have been very liberal supporters
of this church. Dlessrs. Emory, Norment
and Lutz having given about $4,000 each
Mcssrs. Tullock, Perry, Fowler, Jackson,
Charlton. and many others have given lber-
ally to this object. The debt is paid, Much
credit is due to the efforts OF Rev. Bishop
Andrew, Rev. DIR. Newman, pastor to Bishop
Simpson, DIR. Baer, and Chaplain McCabe. No
wonder ut this occasion Of jubilee and rejoic-
ing in commemoration of this event.
Now, that the clouds are lifted, the skies
clear and the heavy burden OF debt removed
it may confidently be predicted for this
church great success and tue brilliant pros
perity that attended IL in its earlier history.
Yesterday morning grand Jubilee" was
held at the church to commemorate its deliv-
erauce from debt. Long before the hour OF
opening throngs of people were vending theiI
way there, adding to the large number pres.
ent, SO that when the service began there
was not standing room in any part Of the
sacred edifce. The choir rendered excellent
music for the occasion. On tho platform
were seated quite number OF clergy
men. Among them were Bishops Simpson
Rev. DR.. Adams, Rev. X. NJ. Bacr, former
PASTOR Rev. DR.. h. II. Ball, Chaplain Nc.
Cabe and the pastor, Rev. Dr. Huntcy
Among tho congregation were noticed many
distinguished people in political and official
Lie.
Bishop Simpson was introduced by the pas
tor who delivered au eloquent sermon
upon the text found in Isaiah xiii, 1: "llc
shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have
set in the earth, and the isles shall wait for
his law"
For a few minutes the text was explained
in its iullness and import. The text alluded
TO the Lord Jesus Christ, and it was lsniah'd
declaration of prophecy of tho whole scheme
of Christianity; that tho Judgment Of Christ
should not be set in this earth until Chris
tianity was establishGd thatA Christianity
would be introduced, aud tho principles OF
Christ DO found in all the earth. The word
discouraged in the marginal reading meant
"broken;" that is to say, the language Of the
text meant, "IIis plans" IIo is represented
as having fulfilled His plans of coming on
the earth until His enemies had become Ills
footstool. lie now sits in Heaven waiting a
fulhllment of His plans, lie waits there
until all things shall be fulfilled.
His plans shall not ho changed. The
speaker suggested two forms Of thought
under which he discussed the words Of the
prophecy. First, that Christ has all possible
knowledge second, that if being has all
knowledge and power, then his plans cannot
lChange. The plans of man do change, but
Those of Christ never. lie illustrated from
1,tn ,o,,,nuiung IF tbn war nf IA Ypngrnl