Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-03
ANOTHER BIG QUARTERLY
A CUSTOM ABOUT THREE-QUAR-
TIERS OF A CENTURY OLD.
Thousands OF People Come from All
Points by RailrOad and by BOat-
The Usual Number of Ludicrous
Incidents.


Points by Railroad and by BOat-
The Usual Number OF LudicrOus
Incidents.
The seventy-third celebration of the
Big Quarterly took place Sunday.
Arrangements had been made which, had
not the elements interfered, would have
! resulted in one of the greatest demon
strations that has yet been given of the
kind. But late on Saturday night thin
drizzle commenced, which slowly but
: surely dampened the ardor Of many who
had contemplated turning themselves
loose, and which by the time the sun was
supposed to rise in the morning had
effeotually quenched all hope of a
great day outside of the pre-
cincts of the church. The rain keeping
up during the forenoon kept back the
enthusiasm usually attending the earlier
meetings and services, and it was not until
a warm sun and hot dinner came to-
gether that the spirits of the throng be-
came en- rapport with the occasion.
Partly through the lingering effect of the
rule established in late years prohibiting
booths and refreshments stands along the
curbs, but more directly from the pro-
hibitory edict of the clouds, the broad
thoroughfare of French street was entirely
devoid of the old marks of hospitality,
the crimson heart of the water
melon, the ''lily-white" ice cream
and the appetizing odor of stewed
spring chicken in the air. Here
and there, in some alley or vestibule of a
store there was q refreshment stand, but
the rest was absent and with it one of the
principal objects of interest to the casual
spectator. While the people arriving on
boats and cars were not nearly SO
numerous as had been expected before
the heavens frowned, there were still
goodly number, sufficient to make French
street, and particularly the vicinity of
Union Church, between Eighth and
Ninth, thickly peopled promenade
ground ending with jam at the church
doors.
Nearly all of the people who came from
down Delaware arrived on Saturday night,
there being only one train from the Della
ware railroad Sunday morning, the Old
Point Comfort express, due here at 3.1
o'clock. ALI the south-bound p, w. d
B. trains, until evening, brought many
excursionists. About $50 came by the
morning trains, and over 800 arrived at
2.27 p. m. From along the Wilmington
u Northern road there were about 200
persons, and many came ON the b. & p.
trains. The steamers Delaware and
Champion brought large number from
Camden and Salem, and the steamers
Wilmington and Brandywine were
crowded with exeursionists from Phila-
delphia, Chester and Marcus Hook.
The Big Quarterly was instituted in
1913, when the colored Methodists first
withdrew from the white congregations
and established themselves upon an inde-
pendent footing. Previous to that time
they worshipped with the white people at
Asbury, but having no voice in church
affairs concluded that the requirements
of the race would be better supplied by
establishing church in which their own
people would have voice in the manage
ment, thus aiding very effectually in
keeping up their interest. The new church
was organized and started on its career in
June 1918, and WAS designated the African
Union First Colored Methodist Protestant
Church," The first quarterly meeting
took place on the last Sunday in August
and was naturally an occasion for a
demonstration of the great Joy of the
colored people at the successful launch
pendent colored church. AS the years
rolled around it became the custom to
celebrate this quarterly meeting as the
anniversary of the church rather than
the actual date of the founding, and thus
the ''Big Quarterly came to be known
by that name. There are still many aged
colored men and women who remember
the first Big Quarterly and have attended
,,na4 oe 4hasa a,,Y,,nI oalaIpoFinno oinna
The services in the church yesterday
opened with love feast at 6 a. m,
which, owing to the weather, was not o
great success. The service in the church
at 10 o'clock drew crowded house, but
that arranged for the tent had to be
abandoned on account of the rain. The
church services were presided over by
the Rev. John w. Hall, the pastor, and
within the altar lnil were seated q number
of ministers, including the Rev. Benja-
min Scott, the president of the middle
district, the Rev. w. ii. Chase of Bing-
hamton, N. Y, the Rev. Cornelius
Temple of Norristown, Pa, the
Rev. I. Jarvis of Unionyille, Pa.,
Rev. Edward H. Chippey, of Newark,
this state, Rev. 4. B. Scott of Chester,
Rev. p. s. Williams, Rev. Daniel Russell
Rev. Henderson Davis and Rev. Charles
Walker of this city. The sermon at 10
o'clock was preachedby Rev. w. II. Chase,
after which collection was taken up for
the general benefit of the church. Mr..
Chnse's text was from Collossians, H. 10.
In the afternoon Rev. Cornelius Temple,
young and interesting speaker, preached
in the church. At 7.45 Rev. Mr. Jarvis
preached, followed by more prayer
and experience meetings, which lasted
until nearly midnight. The high pitch Of
rapture and excitement to which the
songs and shouts worked up the people
was attended with many incidents tina
would have been very ludicrous had i
been possible to separate them from thu
serious objects at which they were aimed
In this respect Big Quarterly was full.
equal to its predecessors.
THE OUTDOOR SERVICES.
In consequence of the storm in th,
morning the outdoor services, in thu
graveyard in the rear of the church ant
under the direction of Spencer
Williams, did not begin until afternoon
when interesting addresses We're made b,
the Revs. Edward IL. Chippey of TIN
Newark and Glasgow circuit, and Hen
d. rson Davis of 81. Pnul's Church, Sontl
Wilmington. At the conclusion of th
services in the church most of the con
gregation Joined those in the graveyard
and, forming circular groups, spent sew
eral hours in singing, praying, shouting
and clapping hands, much to the anliisc
ment and interest of the spectators, mos
of whom were white. In the outdoor exe1
cises there was very brief lull betweel
the afternoon and the night services. Til
evening sermon was preached by til
Rev. W. Fl. Chase of Binghampton, N.
Among his auditors were many whit
people and they were greatly please
with the discourse. His theme, "Th
City of Refuge" was handled in a masterl
manner. Nearly an hour was consume
in the delivery of the sermon, after whic
collection, which was contributed
literally, was taken. The outdoor Sci
vices were continued until nearly
o'clock, much longer than those in ii
church, and closed with singing, praye
clapping of hands and shouting. The il
terest and respect manifested by IL
spectators greatly pleased those who col
Quoted the services.
INCIDENTS OF THE DAY.
A middle.aged man who donned
heavy red undershirt during the late co
spell neglected to leave it Mt home yeste
day, In the afternoon he mingled wit
the hand -clappers and shoutersin the graz
ward, and when he got aglow with religio,
fervor the perspiration began to flow al
- n fauy minutas hia licely-laundrit