Morning journal and courier., 1889-12-14
JOHN KERLEY, R. J. CoucH,
 And many others

tice, the doctor has consented to repeat the
 discourse on Sabbath morning. In the even-
 ing the second sermon of the series will be
 "God Revealed in Terrestrial Nature. or
 Nature in this World Teaches that Man ia
 Under Remedial Economy"
 ssoENTENNIAL mEmORIRs,'' or One Hundred Years of New Haven methOdlsm. The following. Ia on interesting condensed historical sketch of New Haven Methodism from the pen of Rev. W. Fisher Mark~ick of St. John street M. E. church and was printed in the centennial paper which wac published by the pastor and others recently for the benefit of the church bazaar:
 Standing, as we now are, upon the line which closes the first and opens the second century of the history of Methodism in this city, it has seemed to the writer that the topic named in the foregoing caption would be peculiarly appropriate for the article to be inserted in our Centennial Gazette. But the subject is large one, aud in the brief space meagre and scanty outline sketch can be at-
 tempted.
 The keynote of New Haven Methodism is
 found in an entry in the journal of Bishop
 Asbury, under date of May 28, 1789. The
 bishop is there recording the doings of the
 conference then in session in New York; and
 right into the midst of his record he inter-
 stretcheth out the hand unto our ministry, and trust thousands will shortly feel it's induence."
 Just three weeks later, on Wednesday June 17, 1769, Jesse Lee appeared in Norwalk and
 awakened into life those voices which have ever since been echoing along the hillsides of our New England States with stirring ser-
 mon from John 8, 2: "Marvel not that said
 unto you, ye must be born again." And those of our readers who are at all familiar
 with the record of Lees life and labors will
 have but little difficulty in imagining the
 terse, forceful and almost stern setting which
 he would give to such 6 text upon SO august
 an occasion.
 Moving forward, in the quick and decisive
 manner which characterized all his doings,
 we find Lee preaching at Fairfield on Thurs day, June 18; at Newfelds (now Bridgepor)
 on Friday, June 19; and on Sunday, June 21, he delivered the first Methodist sermon In New Haven.
 House, and was based upon the words: "Seek ye the Lord and ye shall live" (See Amos, 6,l6) Again does the mind, calling up the fervih eloquence and tho outspoken straightforwardness which always chsraac- terized the pulpit utterances of Lee, strive to picture his manner of treatment, and the poe tent influences which played upon the hearts of his hearers as he amplified and enforced these words of truth.
 Two Sabbaths later, July 5, we find him back at New Haven again, having visited in the meantime the towns of Reading, Dan- bury, Ridgeheld, New Canaan, Stratfield and Stratford, in each of which he had preached the "unsearohable riches of Christ"
 His sermon at Stratford was delivered at sunset on Saturday evening, and from thence he rode into New Haven on horseback on Sabbath morning, putting up ct Parmeley's tavern, which then occupied the present site of the Insurance building.
 The record of this second visit to New Haven is thus recorded in Stevens History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (vol. ii, pp. 428-424).
 "The State house bell was ruug, and the people assembled there to hear him; but some influential citizens, having procured for him . Congregational chapel, induced him and his hearers to go into it. He pro- claimed his message from the text, "Ac- quaint myself now with Him, and be at peace. "In little time," he says, "I felt l tho fire from above; my heart was warmed | and drawn out in love to my hearers. felt |
  people dropped silent tears, and the counte- | nauces of many showed that the word had l reached their hearts,"
 After the sermon he returned to the tav- srn. s and a dnrins n. the es evening received call Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, who then carried on business as blacksmith on College | street, not far from the corner of George | ,treet, who invited him to his home for the | night, and who afterwards showed him much | kindness whenever his wanderings brought | aim to the city.
 Such, then, were the feeble beginnings of | ,ur beloved Methodism here in New Haven; md looking out upon the substantial pro- yress which has been made, we may well | address to ourselves the pertinent question | 10 often upon the lips of our venerable | founder, "What hath God wroughta"
 Methodism took root slowly here, as else- | where In New England, but its growth has | been solid and substantial from the first. | Not until the middle of the year 1795 was | the frst Methodist class formally established; | and this consisted at the first of but five per | ,ons, with It's founder, Rev. Daniel Ostran. fer, at its head. And 1t should also be I l797, when the old Sandemanan chapel in | roddy alley (now Oregon streeD was pur- lhased for ninety dollars. It would further | 'eom that the meetings held in this place | were of somewhat boisterous character, and | ln attempt was made by certain of the in- | ,abitants of that illuntrious locality to tear he old building down. Recourse was had | # the little society were legally established, | continued.
 In 1907 lot was purchased and Q some- what larger church erected on the east side # Temple street, between Grown and George treets. This building, which was only thirty by forty feet, served as the home of New Haven Methodism until 1922.
 Meanwhile New Haven, which had been . ,art of the Middletown circuit, was set of as separate appointment; and in 1911 the Rev. Truman Bishop was appointed as the lrst regular Methodist pastor in this place. From this time the growth of the society was aore rapid, and in 1920 the town presented . with lot on the north side of the public reen, and on this lot plain but substantial rick church was erected, the corner stone sing laid May 15, 1920. The building was urrisd forward, but just as 1t was covered amags in all parts of the city, laid the new uilding even with the ground. But by rave and persistent effort 1t was re erected, nd was formally dedicated on May 23, 1922.
 Of the First church we need only say fur- her that its present house of worship was kccto0 ID 1C40, uuIiuB tuO Po1tofuto oh tsevs | ames Floy, and was dedicated by the Rev. tephen Olin, in April of that year. It still l orms the center of our Methodist interests ere, and under the vigorous administration { Rev. N. D. Chapman, D. D., still contin- es to exert powerful influence upon all he religious interests of our city.
 The rapid growth of the city, and the roadening interests of the denomination esulted in the demand for further develop ,ent; and in the autumn of 1640 few earn- st and whole-hearted members of the First hurch met at the house of Brother Newton Wheeler to consider how the demand might est bs met. The Rev. G. Stillman, pastor the Firss church attended the meeting, nd . now society was at once projected.
 This society consisted at the first of but ,urteen members, but the number rapidly sud in the winter of 1840-l, the scond atory of the old Museum building on live street was rented and dtted up as ouse of wonhip. In this building the Rev. !. Stillman organized the Second Methodist :piscopal church, on March zth, 1841.
 The conference which met just one month ltsr, ssnt e the arst pastor of the new harge, the Rev. Richard Wyman. A re- ival followed, and the success of the under Aking soon became an established fact. They ontinued to worship in the mussum build pg until the coming of the Rev. Hcman Iangs, who purchased lots on St. John tress, and in May, 1845, the s. John street E church was publicly dedicated to the