The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-03-02
nroNnAy. MARCH 2. 1891



Il is one hundred years to-day since
John Wesley was buried, and all over
7 tho land sermons and other services
were held yesterday, or will be held
next Sunday in commcmoratlon of
4 the event, and the interest in II is not
confined exclusively to the Methodist
Church. This wonderful man APP
psared upon the earth just at tho |
right time to create moral revolution |
III the christian world that had degen-
Grated into cold Journalism and was
fast settling down to kind of dry
rot. The Methodist Church is now
credited with membership OF d,000,-
600 souls, a growth that has no paral-
( lol in any other denomination Of christ
pips.
This is marvellous growth in the
: short space of little over century,
:. aud 1t is still increasing faster than
any other denomination. Somehow its
simple spiritual form of worship suit
ed the masses Of the people, who even
tually fell in with it, though at first
they may have been prosecutors OF it.
No other denomination of modern
times has met with the same persecu-
tions, though all have had more OF less
deep waters to wade through. The
~ good that Methodism has done in its
day is not confined TO its own denomi-
nation. Its moro spiritual and ami
mated forms of worship that appeal so
powerfully to the feelings have per-
Naded other denominations and quick
ened them into more religious zeal and
teavor.
The grand hymns Of John and Chas.
Wesley are as popular in Presbyterian,
Baptist and Episcopal denominations
as among The Methodlsts. Even with
out a theology the Methodists would
have sung themselves into popularity,
md would have drawn large portion
Of the people after them. But the
Methodists are not without a theology
also, and one that has been accepted
as orthodox by denominations not in
spiritual sympathy. America has beer
the grand field of Methodist triumph
IL WIS planted first by Strawbridge
and then followed by Charles Wesley,
Whiteileld Asbury and other men OF
mighty intellect and religious form
With them came the period of the
Methodist itineraut, upon horseback,
with his saddlehag hymnbook and
Bible. With these the Methodist min
lister was fully equipped for active
service. The denomination, however,
hns undergone change.
The rapid settlement Of the country
has brought schools and colleges that
kept pace with the population, and ne
denomination became "A moro warm
HuPporter Of the causo OF education
thaai tie Aleihodists. Their schools
and colleges to-day stand abreast with
the most advanced educational institu-
tions Of the country. It has become M
educated denomination without losing
Its spiritual character and there IS no
denomination i'll tie United state
Keeping pace with it. Amongst th'
early couquests OF Acthuiism was TIN
peninsula l5atweGn the Delaware ans
chesapeake bays and 1t has been loya
y In its attachments.
Wilmington City is strong in its at
taehment to AIethodism. The centennia
OF Asbury VI. L. Church was celebrate
less than eighteen months ago, an
there are now thirteen Methods
churches In the city including Cool
man and Franklin street and not III
ending Swedcs' Chapel, East LAX,
Elsmera and Mt. Salem. Wilminglo
has taken very kindly to the NJ.
Church. and that church has become
power for good in the city, and Will
saying this we of course mean no di
arrangement to other denomination
But yesterday was a red-letter day
hethodism, and il has the floor to-da,
~S~