Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-08

DR.. Parker, the pastor, was the preach
er at this service. / embraced the
opportunity to hear this great preacher
and almost ran through the door to a
seat. [ was fortunate to secure one for
at that MONDAY hour, that large temple
was filed. There was an Introductory
musical service and following this
gentleman appeared on the platform
of the pulpit and announced hymn
which was sung to the good old time of
Dundee. Then prayer was offered by
DR.. Parker, how he led the people,
magically, sweetly and. brought them
individually and collectively with all
their needs TO God. \ lesson was
read, solo sung by vocalist, then the
sermon preached from = Cor. 81. 1t
was a masterpiece, the audience at
times giving vent to their feelings by
applause. DR.. Parker is siXty-two
years of age and his black cloak hanging
loosely around his noble form, with his
iron grey locks touching it, presented
very pleasing contrast. 1t is said that
this church is the most ornate sanctuary
possessed by the Nonconformists of
Great Britain. The original cost was
10000. The foundation stone was laid
on May 10, 1873, by the venerable DR..
Thomas Binney. On May 10, 1874, the
building was opened for public worship,
DR.. w. Lindsay Alexander preaching
the sermon and many high officials
attended in state. Dean Stanley was
also present. This day a collection was
taken amounting to ESQ for the purpose
of placing a memorial window in the
church, commemorative of this one
thOusandth Thursday service.
In City Road is Wesley's Chapel, or
as it was known in John Wesley's day
City Road Chapel. No Methodist
would ever think of visiting London
without having look through this
historic Methodist church; yea [ may
with great propriety call it ''The Cathe-
dral of Methodism." Adjoining it is
Wesley's house, where Wesley took his
''Iast triumphant flight from Calvary to
lions height" on Wednesday March
2nd, 1871.
Starting from the Bank of England
we 90 northward along the main
thoroughfare for about half a Hile until
we come to Bunhill Bone hilD Fields
burying ground on the left hand side of
City Road and on the right, directly
opposite that historic city of the dead,
stands the last earthly home of John
Wesley. In Bunhill Fields, beside the
dust of the CromwelPs, Henry and
Richard. John Bunyan, Daniel DeFoe,
Isaac Watts, lies the dust of Susanna
Wesley, the mother Of Methodism. A
monument fttingly inscribed to her
memory stands in the south grave yard
near the sidewalk, from which we turn
to enter the precincts of the chapel Oh
the other side of the street. Having
now passed through the great iron gates
which open inward from the sidewalk
we approach the Chapel, which stands
about seven rods distant with grave
yards on each side of the carriage way,
and in the rear. This was the first
City of the Dead owned by Methodists.
Here have been laid the bodies of
5450 persons many of whom were
pioneers and founders of the Church.
Mr. Wesley's statue fittingly stands in
the forefront in sight of every passer
by. Near it is the Preachers grave,
which is a vault now filled with the
bones of early itinerants who rest from
their labors. The chapel presents
quite a modern appearance, it remains
nearly the same as when built III IT'S.
Last summer it underwent needed
repairs which aggregated in cost about
G12 900, and was reOpened on Nov. 3,
the sermon being preached by DR..
Stephenson, President of the Confer
ence, Immediately after his return from
the Ecumenical Conference in Washing
ton D. G. John Wesley laid the
foundation stone i'll the presence of a
multitude of rain drenched Londoners
on April p, III. On Nov. l, 177S he
preached the dedicatory sermon and
eleven months afterward "Wesley
House" adjoining was built. The
chapel then had no portico in front. this
was added in 1915. On the left hand
side are the Benson class rooms,
because erected on the site of the old
house which was first the "Book
Concern" and atterward the home of
Joseph Benson, where he wrote his
documentary on the Bible" Here he
died Feb. 16, 1928, and was buried in
the rear of the Chapel only few feet
from John Wesley's grave, for be it
known that here lies the dust of such
Kings of men as DR.. Jubez Bunting,
DR.. Hamilton and many others.
The center of attraction is John
Wesley's tomb, with a high monument
reared above it, all of which is carefully
rallied around: as is Adam Clark's ad-
joining it. Thus the commentators
Clark and Benson lie near each other,
and Richard Watson, the theologian of
early Methodism rests near by, and
near there also lie Thomas Rankin, the
President of the first conference III
America and Samuel Bradburn the
prince of Preachers In the interior
of the chapel found pillars of marble,
contributed by the various branches of
Methodism. among them being one