Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-24
THE ASBURY CENTENNIAL
AsBURY's OBLEBRATI0N OF HER
f00TH ISNIPEH9IRF.
Interesting Exercises Held at that
Church EnsL Weci-'Fne REPORTS
OF missiOns-A Sketch of Asbury
and Hts Past.


and Its Past.
Yesterday week was one Of the brightest |
days of Asbnry's oentercry celebration.
AT the morning session Presiding Elder
Murray read a most interesting essay en-
titled "Then-Now.n One hundred years
ago, said he. there was only one Method.
ist church, 35x35 feet in this city; now
there are IL churches, whose property is
valued OF almost halt million dollars.
Then there were but few members; now
there are more than 6,000. Then there
were no Sunday schools; now there are
10. Then there were no sociiie5 for
young people; now there are many. Then
there were no musical Instruments; now
the OIL Psalm is complied with. Then
preachers were greatly petsecuted; now
Shey are honored and respected. Then
he pastor of Asbury received about G5;
tow the pastor receives 81 400. Then
here were no benevolent collections; now
aere is contributed in Wilmington nenrly
sp6, 900 yearly for benevolenoes. Then
the districts had no names, only about
eight appointments and tho presiding
elder spent whole day az one charge;
now Wilmington district has 40 appoint.
ments and the presiding elder oftan
n breaches three or four times on a Sun
day. Then great revivals were witnessed;
now there are times when 400 souls are
brought i'll at one meeting, as at Epworth
q year ago. Then the church was poor
and made NO hoast of learning; now the
church is rich aud has many large insti-
tutions where ministers and laymen are
faithfully taught. He Recommended con-
centration OF effort and measures to
build one Methodist church year in
needy localities, which Recommendation
4 was adopted by resolution offered by
the Rev. j. d. q. Hanna and by rising
vote.
George 8. Hagany presided at the af-
ternoon session. Histories Of ARbury
~ Church. Asbury Sunday-sohool and Aa-
buTys local preachers were read retp9ct.
lively by the Rev. j. d. O. Hanna, Charles
+. Bordner and Mr.. Hagany The hehistory
Y of the aged church was heard with the
utmost attention. The paper began by
referring to early Methodists. On May
18th, 1883, Asbury congregation pur-
chased lot near the southeast corner of
Third and Walnut atreets. In 1928
house and let on the corner were pur-
z chased. In 1888 additional ground was
secured, giving the cemetery its
present Dimensions. The frat church
was built in 1889. The building
fronted on Walnut street, was about
80 feet square, and had gallery at the
front and an old.styled pulpit at the east
end. The furniture was OF the most
crude pattern. Il was here that Bishop
Asbury dedicated the iirst Methodist
church in this city, just 100 years ago
yesterday. When the church was conse.
Grated the white membership was 43. In
1791 there were 93 white members and
in 1885 the white membership had de-
creased to 40. In 1908 there were 90
white members. After that year the
society grew, and in 1911 the church was
heightened 20 feet. In 1906 there were
100 colored members. The church was
first incorporated in 1902, and iu May of
that year the first corporate trustees were
elected. In 1876 the present parsonage
was erected. The church again underwent
improvements iu 1928, it being widenei
Is feet and heightened Is feet to accom-
modate the growing congregation, which
then numbered 344 white members. Side
galleries also were erected. AT that time
the church was only one story high. The
Sunday-school grew and sor its better
accommodation a building was erected
adjoining the church. A day school wes
established and during subsequent years
others were organlzad. After improve
ments had been made in 1888 the church
was S0,5O feet and the membership, ei
that time all white, was i2O. Previous
to 1920 it was considered the grossest i'm.
propslety for men and women to enter by
the same door. The church WIS divided
by high partition, with sea:s on one
side for women and seats on the othel
side for mon. The fourth improvement
was made in 1876, when tie church
became two-storied. The centenary
of the establishment OF Metaodlsn
was celebrated in Asbury Churcl
in 1889. In that year Asbury he'd it
first secretary, choosing Charles Moore
now SO years old. The church WIS in
proved for the fifth time in 1872, the i'm
provements costing $4,000. The re-
dedication occurred in 1873, In 1866 al
organ and choir was introduced an,
Ashley Simpson wss chosen choir leader
The last improvements to the churcl
were completed in 1855. OF this olI
church only q small part remains. Thi
consists OF part of the original wall
which forms the south partition between
the yestibule and the rest of the church
" The society now has $40 members and 6.
probationers. During its 100 years th
church has had 62 pastors. One die
during his pastoral term. Another ia nov
Baptist minister. Fifty.ons of the pas
pastors are dead.
In the evening the Rev. W. O Robin
son of Philadelphia preached fror
Palm CIV, 81. At this service q. N
Leitch sang A5bury's centennial hymn
composed by Ashley Simpson, and severl
members were received on probation an
by letter. Also, spirited revival OF
CURED. ..=-..1 ..z
A stock company, to publish tho cen
tennial proceedings, was organized ys!
terday. The company has ~ member
and the stock is $25 per snare. The csl
tennial proceedings will be published
pamphlet form and cloth.
Thursday was the fifth day of Asbury
centenary celebration.
At the afternoon session G.. W. Jcsep
presided and j. O. Piokels served as SCI
retary. Prayer was offered by the Rs
IA Vaughn 8. Collins.
The Rev. j. Il. Waters read sketch {
Ezion Church. Early records of IL
church were not kept. During the laI
10 years the church met many obstacle
hut overcame all OF them. In 1855, wht
free from debt, the church was Rlmo
entirely destroyed by fire. The ehurc
as ii now is was completed late in tn
wear. The rebuilding cost 81 800. III
church organ cost ST. 100 and tina parsoi
~ age 81, 800. The church has 5Sl mer
3N bers and 50 probRtioners. The Sunda,
3& schools attendance is 5S7.
A sketch of Union Church was read
d.. la tfk,ss Oh II,