Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-10-16
deed Richard whatcoat was p. L. Of this
district IN 1900.

deed Richard whatcoat was p. L. Of this
district IN 1900.
In 1873, few days after the organiza-
ton tf Methodism IN America, q revival
OF religion blessed the Methodlsts Of
Wilmington. Thomas Coke visited the
Peninsula after the Christmas Confer.
ence, and records In his journal that
when he visited Wilmington q revival
was 10 progress
In the period from l7GG or y, when
Captain Webb lrst preached in Will
mington, To 1889, when the church was
built, there was a small but heroic band
OF men aud women who, in spite
OF opposition and persecution, main
talncd the faith. At last their faith IL
rewarded, ard one Sabbath morning u
hundred years ago they sat In their own
church. with their beloved bishop before
them preaching the dedicatory sermon,
their hearts nil aglow with gratiiud TO
U ID for his goodness, while they slug.
| On May II, l7oD, lot of tround near
the southeast corner OF Walnut aud Third
streets was purchased from Caleb Way
and Sarah, his wife, for the sum OF ei05.
II was conveyed 10 tfnstees II. Colesbury,
John Nj Ter, Thns. Webster, John Thel-
well, Samuel Fouury, Richard Sheath,
George Wltsili, JANIS Bell and John
Jaquet, Jr.
In 1928 the tocieiy purchased from
William Simmons, thi ough Edward Wor-
rtll, who aiterward made q liberal giit
10 the church on this purchase, q house
and lot on the southeast corner Of Wal.
nut aud Third streets for ti0a The lot
! was further enlarged In 1888 by the pur-
chase of a lot south OF tho church prop
eriy for S615. The cemetery then had
the same dimensions as At present. The
Rev. J.. Rus,ling says in 1884; "rhs
ground at the corner OF Walnut and
Third streets, alter furnishing u situation
for the chuich, the rchooi house aud the
sexton's house serves as au eligible place
for interment."
| Here lie the Colesburye, Thtlwells, WI
sells, Woods, Whalers, MeLanes, ,Jakeees.
wotrells aud many otters, including the
mortsl remains Of ]. farrell, once dis
iiuRuishcd itiueraBt minister. Here,
likewise, are portions OF tile families OF
several ministers who from time 10 time
oiliciated in the church, viz: Millers
Kendsl's, Smiths. McCombs, Wiggips.
kustiing and others
II was on this lot of ground that In
l7eO. less than four yiars a.tcr tho NJ. T..
church was ofganized, the society pro.
ceede1 TO rear house tor the worship OF
0oi. The building frontcd as now, on
Walnut street, and was about IS feet
square, with gallery at the front and a
peculiar old-fasbioned pulpit at the east
end. This pulpit was about four feet
wide and 10 the door OF the platform live
feet. Ou the north eide was o door, tu
which steps led, aud the preacher shut
himself In after he had mounted the
steps, but the south was closed In but
had no step. Edward worrall said, be.
cause OF It's onc-sided appearance, 1T re-
minded him OF crib with one leg" and
II permitted he would put steps on The
south side. The r acber had kind o
stall In front oi hin four feet high, ec
Ligh that II he stopped he could not be
seen at all. Below tho pulpit nsor 1t wa.
%, en- TO the floor Of the church. Under
this the leader OF the singing sat, ana
when the hymn was snuounced he came
out from this retreat aud led It, When
the hymn was over he retired TO the sam,
quarters. The seats we're simply board
b, nch with a single 49,. ana I6H rail
back. IL was here that 100 years ago to-
day Francis Ashury came 10 dedicate the
nrst Methodist church OF Wilmington
There were gathered the men and women
who ior twenty yeaIs and more had
, struggled with open cpinity, vile abusei
sneers aud persecution to preserve the
fa th delivered TO them by Capt. Webb.
OH the lower door most OF the AZ white
members were there.
A petition four feet high ran down the
centre of the church, 10 divide the men
from the women; and this was continued
out into the yard by fence seven Ret
high. This fence was extended from The
chutcli 10 q brick wall seven feet high,
- H.. 81 Ia sNtat Na
In Tho summer OF 1859 the corner stone oi
the church was laid. john Lcdmou, in
1860, met a MIR. Harris, then "a years old,
who taid lac well remembered the laying
OF he corner stone OF the first ASK ury.
Willism Jessty was the stationed
pr, acher at Wilmington at that time, aud
Henry Willis aud Lemuel Green were
the Presiding Elders over the district
which thon extended from the
Delaware to the Ohio rivers,
while up IN the gallery, not lcsc Interested,
aud perhaps more demonstraiive, were
the 10 colored member. Here sat John
Thelwell, who pitched the tunes for
Capt Webb, under the trees, twenty
years before. On the right and lett oi
the pulpit, In the old-iasbioned amen
corntre, are ths oldest members OF the
church, the mothers Of Israel In plaln
gaIb.
The centre Of this sccne is Francis
AsbuIy, standing TO deliver tue first
gospel message heard In these walla.
There he Ia as he looked when be
preached here O century ago; aTcct
siucwy, with flesh OF Iron hrmness and
nerves OF steel; bis countcnsnao open, hii
head ample and we'll poised, eyes steady
and mildly expressive, lips compressed
: chin we'll act his hair cut euuare acTOs,
lis forehead, and flowing gracefully
behind Ills neck, he stands before us II
the prime OF manhood, just In his 4itl
year; thoughtful, religious, self contained
a IL eder OF men. Let us pause q momen
to look upon another picture of thi
d, great man drawn In part by the pen o
Prot Little at the G ntennIal Gouierenc,
OF 1884: "He had n robust tgure, q face
of Blended sweetness rnd severity, an ey,
I that saw for more than IL revealed, {
voice steadied by an iron will, bn
5 tIemulous with feelings that sometime
, shook his soul as reed is shaken by thu
/ wind. He had none OF Williams wilt
. earnestnesS; he was without the ctarm o
/ Straw bridge, or the gentle harmlcssncs!
i OF Richard WhatcoA'. lie had not iht
. thorough bumanCss of Jesse Lee, MOI
. the mystical tenderness and strength o
5 Peeborn 0arTettson.
j "Thy soul was like star, and dwel
, apart;
/. Thou fad'st yoice whose sound VIA
like the sea;
b Pure as the naked heavens. majestic
!, So did'st thou travel on life's common
In cheerful godiiness, and yet thy hear
] The lowlicst duties on herself did lny."