The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-05-05
SKETCH OF REV. j. A. B. WILSON, D. D..

The Peninsula Methodist last week con-
cluded its biographical sketches of dele
gates to the General Conference by giving
the following account of the life of Rev.
John A. B. Wilson, D. D., who spent
several years in this county, anu than
whom there is not a more prominent
clergyman in the Wilmington Conference:
On the first ballot for delegates to the
General Conference; at the late session of
the Wilmington Conference, Drs. Todd
and Wilson were elected, the latter re-
ceiviug II votes, out of 13l cast.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Milton, Sussex county, Del, September.
18th, 1S4S. HIS parents were members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His
father was engaged in the coasting trade,
and John became sailor, following the
sea for number of years, and working
his way up to the position of second mate.
He was about to be placed in command
of a vessel, when ne turned aside from
these secular pursuits, to respond to what
he believed to be a Divine call to the
Gospel ministry.
He was converted, February 25th, 1866
under the ministry of Rev. William B.
Walton and was licensed to preach in
July 1868. He was at once called out
to assist Rev. Samuel Webb, on Sharp
town circuit, under Rev. Vaughan Smith
presiding elder of Snow Hill district.
In March 1869, under the presidency of
the late Bishop Matthew Simpson, the
| Wilmington Conference was organized,
and John A. B. Wilson was received on
trial, with seven others, making the first
class of probatloners in this new Confer.
ence. Brother Wilson was appointed to
Lewes Ct., under the supervision of Rev.
| George w. Burke, as his colleague; the
next year he served Harrington circuit,
as junior preacher, with Rev. A. d.
Davis. At the Conference of 1871, he
was admitted into full connection, Or
dained deacon by the late Bishop Levi
Scott, and appointed to Lincoln circuit as
preacher in charge. At the end of two
years, he was ordained elder, in 1878, by
the same bishop, and appointed to Leipsic
and Raymond. His subsequent charges
we're as follows,-1S75 6, Mariners Bethel
Boston, Mass, 1S76.7s, North East, Md;
1878, SO, Asbury, Wilmington, Del;
1SS0-S2, Paramount, Md, and 1888 81,
presiding elder of Salisbury district. At
the end of this term, he was appointed by
Bishop H. w. Warren, at the Crisfield
Conference of 1887, presiding elder OF
Dover district; in which charge he is now
serving his second year.
| In 1854, Brother Wilson was chosen
second reserve delegate to the General
Conference; and at the last commence.
ment of Dickinson College, he received
the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity
from that venerable institution.
In the office of presiding elder, Brother
Wilson has developed aggressive quail
ties of most effective character, espec-
tally in the line of increasing financial
contributions from the ministers, and the
laity, to the various enterprises of the
Church. With liberal divisings of this
line, he confidently expects the Divine
blessing upon other lines of Church work
and his annual reports show that his
confidence is not misplaced.
| DR.. Wilson is a man of unbounded
energy, untriny industry, and of un-
| f1inching purpose to succeed in whatever
he deems worthy of his pursuit. He has
been an uncompromisipg adversary to the
hquor traffic, and most Jealous advocate
of the temperance cause.