The Wilmingtonian., 1885-09-19
TWO CENTS.

| Lincoln afterwards said that little Rap
tist preacher was, what saved Delaware to
the Union. John Adams at an earlier day
said it was the Baptists who in the time of
the revolution saved Delaware to the Fed
eral Union. The music for the services up
to this time was provided by harmonic,
which is heard of for the last time in 1866.
This was quite g famous instrument in its
day. In 1858 the Baptist city mission was
formed, out of which grew the Bethany
Church. When the Rev. Mr.. Dickinson
left the pastorate the membership was 4S4,
but in 1870 it had dropped to 373. Dr..
Cook was first called by the church as pas
tor in 1871 but declined. The Rev. |. D.
Waters became the pastor in 1872, and
Bethany Church was built in that year
Mr. Waters resigned in 1878, and was sue
ceeded by the Rev. Alexander Macarthur,
who remained until 1875.
DIR. Cook was called again as pastor Oc-
tober 9Th, 1875, accepted and entered upon
his duties December 1st of the same year.
He came from small and suburban fold.
Nearly 10 years have gone In 1876 and
1876 very useful meetings were held and 172
were added to the congregation, while the
Sunday School was greatly increased. On
September Both, 1878, the Delaware Bap-
tist Union was organized in this church.
There was great revival in the church in
1888, during which there were iii additions
to the membership. In all there were 494
added to the church during DIR. Cooks pas
torate, of whom 394 were by baptism. One
quarter of the entire membership for so
years was added in the last ten years. The
highest in any one year was 172; lowest, 16;
average for the ten years, 40; average addi-
tons by baptism, "a. The membership
now is 495, more than double that of ten
years ago, and greater than the roll at any
time since the church was organized.
The church has had II pastors in the half
century; 1897 persons have been members
of the church in that time. The copgrega-
tion has contributed but four young men to
the ranks of the ministry, however, and Dr.
Cook pleaded for more. The four are Terry
Bradley, Henry Stevens ]. R. Straight and
II. w. Perkins. The church has not sin
gle student in theological seminary.
After DR.. Cooks address the choir and
congregation sang hymn written for the
occasion by the Rev. Prof. Moses Heath, a
member Of The congregation. DIR. j. W. t.
Boothe, Of Delaware Avenue Baptist
Church spoke on 'Past ATefcies," and the
Rev. Mr.. Putnaua-of Upland, Ia, upon the
: future. Washington Jones spoke briody
and read letter of congratulation from the
Rev. Mr.. Waters, the former pastor Of the
church, now in Kentucky.
The eighth session of the jubilee exercises
was held on Wednesday evening, in which
80 9So y eho efeninS were pIeceueu
BY a young peoples meeting Of the Social
Circle and Sewing Association of the
church. These being prominent features OF
the church work and owe their origin to the
pastor the Rev. R. B. Cook, d. D.
The addresses of the evening were by
president II. G. Weston, D. D., of Grocer
Theological Seminary, Dir. j. G. Walker, D.
D., of Philadelphia, the Rev. DIR. Boothe of
this city and the Rev. Prof. NJ. Heath.
Friday evening meeting was held in the
interest of Women and Children Societies
for missions. Papers were read by Mrs.
Geo. A. lie Maistre and Miss S. A. Wells:
after which addresses were made by Presi-
dent II. G. Weston, D. D., of Grocer Semi
nary, the Rev. DIR. Luther of Philadelphia
and the Rev. DIR. Boothe of this city.
On Sunday September 18th, the last day
of the seres-at the II o'clock service a
sermon was preached by the Rev. c. c..
Biting, D. D., Of Philadelphia, who is the
bible secretary of the American Baptist Pub.
lication Society. After which the annual
collection of the church for the Publication
Society was taken up.
In the evening DR.. Biting delivered an ad-
dress on "What Baptists have done for the
world, i" which was able and eloquent, set
ting forth concsely the well known strug-
giles of this denomination for civil and re-
ligious liberty, they being the pioneers in
this field Of thought. DR.. Biting las few
equals as thinker or an orator in the pull
pit.
The committee having charge Of these SER
vices were the Rev. DR.. Cook, Washington
Jones, Alfred Gawthrop, S. A. Hodgman,
Chas. ]. Wollaston, the Rev. NJ. Heath,
Geo. A. lie Maistre, A. P. Stevenson, c. S.
Morgan and B. F. Cooling.
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Some Alarming Statistics