Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-10-16


the exercI es opened with the hymn 90, /,
For II ousand Tongues to sing.p THIS
was followed by prayer by Presiding
Elder Murray, at er which "All Hall the
Power of Jesus Name" was sung.
William II. billsny read an interesting
history OF Grace Chnfch.
Grace Is the grand child OF Asbury
and she comts to-day, at the age OF 25
years, to greet and coneratula.e you
upon attaining theaRe of 100 years, and
TO give due praise ana honor TO the faith
fui and earnest Christian men and women
who for century maintained the cause
OF Christ in this community.
During the successful pastorate OF Wi.
liam j. Stevenson at ~. Paui's In 1854
there was need Tor enlarged Sunday
school and church accommodations.
Dur ng the fall Of 1865 aud the early
part Of 1854 the idea Of an entirely dis
tinct church in n different section Of the
city culminatei 10 a design TO erect a
costly aud handsome edilce IS the thsulS
Offering in the centenary year OF Amcr-
can Methodism.
The first meeting Of the friends OF the
enterprise was held November II, 1864,
eleven persons being present: Rev. w.
J. Stevenson. J. I. Cause, George W.
Sparks, Delaplain Mcdaniel, H. u. Pick
e's. DIR. George Pepner Norris, Edwin
Wilmer, Job II. Jackson, q. +. Rudolph,
S. NJ. Harrington and W. II. Billany. 1t
was unanimously r.solved, "That we
pledge TO each other our most szeaicus
efforts and constant iabors In the work Of
constructing new an thaudsome Nfetho.
dist church in this citS and that with
the blessing and he p 81 God our lahore
shall not be relaxed until this great and
good work shall hays been accOuAptsh-
ed" A committee was at once appointed
to secure plans. %
This movement met with favor from
the people. The meeting was public and
held January Q, 1865. George w.
Sparks presided. When Bishop Simp GU
earnestly addressed the meeting 1t gave
great encouragement 10 the friends Of
the enterprise. TIC following resolu-
tlon was unanimously adopted; "Re-
solved, That II 10 tho unanimous sense
Of tlis meeting mat the interests OF
Methodism, church enterprise and city
improvements unite 10 encourage the
erection OF new chuich somewhere in
the improving westsrn portion of the
city; and that thu congregation Of St.
Il hui . N SuulCu Aub iut vi
the enterprise will build new church
on some eligible site ln ths western part
Of the city.
A meeting was held In the lecture room
of st. Paul's Church on January 27,
1865. The following were elected irus-
tees: Daniel NJ. BITS, De'aplain Nc
Daniel, G. p. Rudolph. Jos II. jacks u,
john Messick, DR.. George Pepper Norris.
Jarrett Megaw, .Georee W. splrks a,
J. 4. Cause. But three of these are
living. At the meeting Grace was chose II
as the name and an a6lFess was issued to
the public aud q sJsiciting committee
appointed TO procure subscriptions.
The first M citing OF the board was
held at the house of Daniel NJ. Bates on
March 81, 1865. The board organized by
clect'ng george w. Sparkle, chsirman;
s. NJ. Harrington, secretary and w. H..
Blllany, treasurer. Tue board was soon
called upon 10 lament the death oil one oi
its members, DR. George Pepper Norris,
which occurred at time when his career
promised so much Usefulness to the
church and society. II. Y. Pickles Wa
elected to OIL the vacancy caused by the
death Of DR.. Norris. On March ~, the
trustees elected George w. Sparks, J.
Taylor Cause aud Job II. Jackson q
building committee and adopted plans
for new church furnished by 'Thcmas
Dixon Of Baltimore, but formerly oi
Wilmington.
On April 9, 1865, the lot at the corner
of Ninth aud West streets was purchased
for $40 0O0, and on April 13 the trustees
Instructed the bullfiihg committee to
commence operations INN eiiately and to
build the chapel this year.
Money must be raised, the workmen
must be paid promptly, bills for material
Were maturing.
The way was, in the providence oi
God, opened and the means provided.
The corner stone was laid by Bishop
Simpson on October 2, 1866. He with
others made addresses, u large concourso
OF people teing present. The ladies OF
the church had not b,en idlein the mean.
time.
During the summer and autumn oil this
year they had been working and making
preparations with All enthus asm which
was unbounded to hold a fair Tor the pur-
pose CT raising poniy to furnish the
chapel and Sunday school hall The fair
was held in the Institute Hall, In the
month OF December, 1866, and was a
social and financial success, some $4,000
being realized.
Revival meetings followed II January,
1879, for the church. 81. Paul's, was III
geoi spiritual condition. Many persons
we're eonv, rted. Some have held and
Others are ut this time holding respons.-
be positions in Grace Church.
Work on tho chapel progressed
steadily during ths auiumn and winter,
to have 1t ready for occupancy by March.
The first lervico was held in the lecture
room on Sunday moi ming, March, 25,
1866 Th,re was preaching by the pas
tor, the Rev. W. J. Stevenson. who had
been asst. ned TO tile new congregation, q
portion OF which withdrew from st,
Pulls Church. The congregation was
lar. Q, every available seat being occupied
anil lhe d d.el est interest manifested.
Ths Sunday school held It's first ses.
ZION on the afternoon of the same day in
the lecture ruoni. Tho organization oil
the ai'eln9i II session Of the Sunday
tchcUl was effected on tire evening oi
March III, 1896, NJ tho residence OF g. +.
= dolplr. J. 1. Cause was elected super
nd,nt and q. +. Rudolph assistant:
. C morning s, eslon was organized
Marsh II 1866, W. H Billany superin'
tehdeni.
Friday ey,ning. March 90, the first
u aycf meeting service was held. Aittr
the meeting the publie rental OF pews In
The chap"l took place, the rental teing
50, $50; premiums, 81 $50; total, S3, 6l0.
Inc st every pew was rented.
Olt of this money, the first received by
tic new church, 5000 were appropriated
10 the Sunday school In recognition OF
the TACT hat the church had its origin in
the wants oil the But day school, and that
this was expected TO be the man source
OF her success, Influence and member
ship.
The chapel was dedicated to the wor-
chin of n nd IN Sunday Juna 10 tS6H nj