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

s-"Ns taS hhah Wubth lttti0
ran to kiss and hug was buried IN
childless grave. He never shunued any
danger or hardship, but his lie was one
of continuous toll, until at last rest Itself
could yield him no repose. A sort OF
spiritual Cromwell, compelling obedience
at every cost TO hiinself as woii ne Others,
Asbury could have broken his mothers
heart to serve the cause Tor which he died
daily.
This was the man who etood here one
hundred years ago TO day and pre- ched
Gods woid. Do you wonder If this man
stirred the little society into new zeal and
higher fidelity to Christi Though the
Methodiste now had meeting
house OF their own, yet the difficulties
against which they had been contendlng
lor twenty years, were not removed.
Indeed, from the time oil the building OF
the church to many years subsequent
they seem to have increased. The tluc-
tuAtiCn OF the membership show the
struggle through which the society was
passing. The 43 white members found
on the church roll In 1850, though they
had become IS In 1904, when Thomas
Wall was pastor, were reduced TO 40 In
i1v1. during tie Pastoratc Of John Vanne-
mar, aud though In several pastoratcs
there were over hundred white mem.
oefs. yot MS late as 1908, IN William
Bishops pastorste, but 90 were reported
TO the conference. After that the soei-
city, with lew fluctuations, grew steadily
stronger, aud 10 1871 1t was deemed
Dcccssary to enlarge e-make the fret en-
argemen. of the church 20 feet eastward
-mskipg It 55 feet long by 80 wide.
During the y years between the build
| ing oi the church iu 1883 aud its fret i'm
| provemeut In 1871, the business Of the
| church was transacted In u careful mau-
ner Thomas Wall, q great and good
man, was pastor here in l79l.
In 1876 Asbury Church had upon her
records about 100 colored members.
Asbnry Church has always been dccid-
edly in favor of Tree seata. There is no
prospect to-day that this policy will be
| changed.
In the year 1909 tho church was iucor.
porated, aud on the 25th OF May of that
year the first corporate trustees were
e:ected. They were Henry Co.esbury,
Isaac Eews, Samuel Wood, Henry Metz,
George Jones, Naurlci Williams and
Caleb Kendall.
In 1916 the present parsonage was erect
ed, for which the stewards paid $3.50 q
year each for several years to the trus-
tees.
The second improvement on the church,
10 which the walls were changed for the
enlargement OF the church, was In 1928,
when Thomas Young, Richard Williams,
John Guyer, James Simpson apd Edward
Worrcll were appointed building COM
mittec, though considerable repairs were
put on the church In consequence Of
damages from q great storm IT 1918.
Previous to this the need OF greater ac-
commodations was seriously felt.
| Probably great revival blessed the
church 10 the frat paetorate Of
J. RustlIng, 1919 81. In bis tlrst
year he reported 2i5 white mem
beIs aud in hiS second, SIS. A subscrlp.
ton paper was put IN circulation for the
purpose OF securing money to build a
school house, but II failsd. Enough
money had beea collected, however to
pslnt and repair the church. Iu 1928,
during the pastorate OF Sol. Higgins, H.
consequence OF another great revival,
which increased the white membership
10 3i4. the work Of enlargement could be
| no longer delayed. On Mach llth, 1873,
II was determined TO enlarge The church
by extending it so feet toward Third
street.
| At a subsequent meeting this was re
considered, aud II was decided to enlarge
10 leet toward Third street, and 10 fee,
! eastward, which was accordingly done,
aud the church, which originally was IS
feet square IN 1873, was 5Ox70 Caller
les were then put in all around, but It
was but one story.
The Sunday school continued to grow.
In 1872 it was determined to provide the
children with suitable quarters, aud a
school building, about 1875 was erected
at the southwest corner of the lot, ne=t
TIE church. In tlis building several who
are still among us attended Sabbath
schoo'. A day echool was also conduct
ed in II, the building being rented from
the trustees for this. purpose, and a
Young Mems Beneficial Club debated
| walls. It stood there TIL 1876. when
other arrangements were made for the
| comfort of the Sabbath school.
BY members Of Asbury, Sabbath schools
| were organized IN various parts OF the
city; some OF these were not apparently
successful.
Seventh street school became Scott
church, rivaling In earnestness her
mother. A school in Brandywine vi.
lage grew until to-day we have the
lourishlng Brandywlne church. Mt.
Salem school 10 now bat one OF the many
enterprises of Mt. Salem Church.
Madeley began IN Sabbath tchoo! work
commenced by Asbury workers, who sur
rendered when Grace was willing to pro-
vide according TO their usual liberallty
for the infant society. Weeley, Silver.
brook and CoOkmau oil the present day,
date their In ,ipency from Sunday schoo
workers from the old Asbury hive.
The third Improvement made upon tho
church, by which the building was en-
larged, was In 1888, when, after revival
under VIM. A. Wiggins, the member
ship, now all white, hau increased to 400
Miller Duuott, John Flinu aud Richard
WilliGms were appointed the building
committee, aud John NJ. Turner did the
work. The church was then S0x50 feet,
and still one story with agallery on three
sides.
Previous 10 1920, 1t would have been
considered the grossest impropriety Tor
men and women 10 enter by tho eame
door into the church. One side of the
chu ch and one door was exclusively for
men, tie other for women, while down the
centre OF the church was high parti-
tlon, running the whole length OF the
church, that ellectua'ly bar ed III the
one seE from the other. By 1892 this
gave rise to mauy complaints. II q
husband came to church with bis wife
they separated at the door, tho wife tn
tered upon one side and tha husband
upon the other, sor did they catch sight
OF each other again until the service was
over.
On August 20, 1889, there ore, ii
was decided by tho trustees, in order
to silence complaints and promote the
comfort OF the wofshipers, that the men