Telegram-herald., 1891-09-07
LIFE OF 4 NOBLE TQILIR
Rev. w. n. Thompson Gives Lie
Sketch of Bishop Asbury.
The GREAT PIONEER OF NErHODISN.
A Story of Unparalleled Devotion 20 .
Holy Causs-And of Tirsiess Ens
srgy Through tho Long Years
Of His Life.

Atthe opening of services last cven-
ing at the Second-ss. NJ. E. church Rev.
w. II. Thompson announced that
owing TO the session of the United
Brethren conference IN this city he had
thought it courtesy to extend an invl-
tation to one of its ministers to occupy
the pulpit at his church and had re-
ceived a reply that one of them would
be on hand. AS no one had put in an
appearance it would be necessary for
him to try to entertain the audience as
best he could. Expecting some one
else to fill the pulpit he had made no
preparation for work himself, but he
SAID he would give them brief history
of a person that would be OF some in
terest to Methodists in view of the fact
that the Michigan conference OF that
denomination will soon be convened in
this city. He then proceeded to give
an interesting biography of the Rev.
Francis Asbury, 1.-The pioneer bishop OF
America" of which synopsis is given
below. The speaker began by saying:
"As we stand on mountain range We
see only the ridge on which We are
located, but if we view the range at a
distance all the ribs and valleys are
plainly discernible.
This can be applied to the lives of
men. We zee their good traits more
plainly after they are dead; particu-
larly Is this SO with the life of Bishop
Asbury.
Hts Early Training.
He was born at Stratford, England
seven years after the conversion of John
Wesley. His early life was spent amid
the excitement aud prejuice that had
been created by Wesley's preaching.
He finally gained permission from his
mother to attend church services con-
Quoted by the Methodists and was much
surprised to see that they were worship
ing God. He had been studIous boy
and had read many books With profit
which had equipped him for COM
petent teacher.
At the age of L. years he began to
preach Methodlsm with such force and
energy that people maryeled at his
ability and at the age 20 years he was
made q member of the Methodist con-
ference. During this time the doctrine
had swept across the Atlantic and had
gained q considerable foothold in Amer
lea. In 1771 the cause in America
called for help and young Asbury vol
unteered to cross the ocean. On the
4th OF September, I'LL, he bade his pa
rents adieu and went to Bristol
without = Penny in His Pocket
with the determination to come TO
America as an itinerant Methodist.
He was met by friends who donated
him $50, a suit of clothes and blanket.
He then set sail. landing At PhiIadel-
phia, where he found society consist
ing of 600 members and ten preachers.
He Immediately went to work giving
impulse and vIgor To the caiise. He
soon organized twenty-four appoint
ments throughout the New England
states which required six weeks to visit.
PcUple were 90 interested IN his teach
ings that they would come from ten
miles distant to hear HIM, starting in
the night in order to be on time TO get
q seat at the services. Soon after his
arrival here, trouble began to arise in
the colonies. The great Boston Tea
Party was held and several of the min-
listers who were Englishmen dropped
their work and returned home.
Godliness Preferred to Patriotism.
Young Asbury loved the Lord more
than he did England and remained rs a
soldier for the Church. 1t can he said
that this man became a citizen of Amer
ica through Gods calling for he never
returned to England after the close Of
the war that followed this difficulty.
On Dec. 25, 1874, this eloquent and un-
tiring preacher saw the membership of
his church increased from 600 to $1,000.
At this time he was appointed by wes-
ley as the first Bishop of America.
This elevation did not add energy to
hs work neither did il detract any
thing from his desire. He continued
his itineracy, his annual journies
amounting to 5000 miles. These were
made through forests and over almost
impossible roads while he was suffer
ing from mslarial fever; still his desire
for the work Was not dlminIshed. He
preached his last sermon IN Baltimore,
after having been carried into church,
from the text, life is Short" HIS
death occurred in the 45th year of his
work here IN America and his remains
H.