Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-12
ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST
Old AsBURY CHURCH IN ITS NER
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The interior improvements to Asbury
M. L. Church have wrought wonderful
change in the ancient edifice. So great
is the change stranger would think the
auditory is new. II has been handsomely
recarpeted and refrescoed and partially
refurnished. The walls and ceiling are
frescoed in panel design. The colors are
subdued, but the effect is striking. The
fronts of the galleries are painted to cor
respond in tints with the fresco work.
The design of the ceiling is very elab-
orate, the centre being large circle. The
back of the pulpit recess is divided into
three panels, to represent the Trinity.
They are filled with checker work, the
space being alternate blue and gold. In
q semi circular space above the panels is
an open Bible. The coneave ceiling
over the pulpit is frescoed with blue
field and q representation of the rising
sun and myriads of stars. Above the
arch is the motto, "God is our Refuge
and Strength" The pulpit is furnished
with a walnut desk and antique walnut
chairs upholstered in green velvet. The
chancel has been lowered several inches.
The pews are upholstered in green rep.
The choir gallery has been recarpeted and
refurnished and in the side galleries the
partitions that formerly ran down every
block of pews, midway between the
aisles, have been removed, and the corner
pews have been replaced by semi circular
ones. The auditory communicates by
double swinging doors with the infant
school room and the left gallery is on
level and communicates with the church
parlor.
Appropriate services marked tie re-
opening of the capacious auditory Sunday.
Three services were held during the day
and the attendance at each was large.
The Rev. @. N. Sims, d. D., LII. D.,
chancellor of Syracuse University, con-
Quoted the morning service. His sermon
was an interesting discourse, ably de-
livered and affected many of his hearers
| to tears. His text was Psalms oxxxvu:5 and
6. In the delivery of the sermon he con-
sumed about three-quarters of IN hour.
| His theme was man ought to love the
| church more than self. The church is
| God manifested on earth. It is his one
appointed institution. Everything is
touched by the church. There is moth
ing without it and, excepting it, all enter
| prises have o limit. Man should love the
| church because of this. If men are
| wicked the church makes them better I;
if sick, it sympathizes; if astray, it
brings them back. 1t has q mission to all
men. Man should love the church be-
cause its institutions so command, be-
cause it endures forever. The church is
the great Illuminating power of the intel
lect.
In the afternoon nearly all of the pas
tors of the M. e. churches in this city,
and the Reys. r. @. Jones of Mt. Salem
and e. H. Nelson of Newport, were
present. The Rev. II. Fl. Adams an
nounced the opening hymn, and the Rev.
@. W. Prettyman led in prayer. Bishop
Warren preached lengthy but interest
ing sermon, taking for his text Isaiah Lx
II. His theme was Gods exchange Of
the better and higher gifts of life for the
lower and meaner. In philosophical
poetical and oratorical manner he lifted
man from one stratum to another, from
one mountain summit to another, until HI
came TO the point that that which is mos
appreciated on earth, gold, is the meanes
thing in heaven; there the streets ar,
paved with it. Diamonds from eartl
were only fit for doors in heaven. Crys
tails in this world were only fit for wall
around the new Jerusalem. The bishol
quoted huently from Pollock and Milton
and his remarks produced good effect
The evening sermon was preached b.
the Rev. j. Richards Boyle, ID. D., 0
Grace Church. His text was Isaiah XII
81, and the sermon is said to have beel
the best preached by him in this city. II
dwelt ON strength and its power, an
, how exhaus ton is overcome, and how re
! newal occurs by waiting upon the Lord il
earnest devotion, SO that a man 'mount
up on wings as an eagle" scars to heavel
and to God in thought and devotion her
and in spirit at death how he runs il
this life without getting, in bearin
, Gods messages and heaven-imposed bur
dens. Finally, man walks and faints not
because the strength of God renews hir
day by day for the humble duties of life
He walks to the end of his race and the
through the valley of the shadow O
death and then he receives his crown.
The debt contracted by the churcl
, improvements was $4,000. Some tim
, ago $2, 900 were paid and arrangement
for the payment of $4,000 more in thre
years were made. This left $4,000 NOR
to be raised yesterday for immediate use
. Old Asbury, assisted by the Methodism Q
the city, raised the desired amount il
cash and subscriptions. Several person
contributed over 300 each, and til
gentleman who put q nice tin roof on th
building presented his bill of $500 re
ceipted without taking a penny. In th
responses for aid Grace Church especial
!, was liberal. Chancellor Sims took charg
l of the financial matters Sunday and hi
assistance proved valuable. The rlisin
|, of sS5, 900 during the present condition {
+ the times is considered q big days wor
and the Asbury congregation is jubilar
over hesuccess of the reopening service