Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-06
AsBURY MEMORIAL HALL.
Unprecedented Spontsneity Of the Methodist
Conference Subscriptions.


unprecedented spont.nei.y Of the Methods.
Conference Subscriptions.
SPECIAL Correspondence Of The Evening sts-
HAoERsrowN, March 4. 1893.
The enthusiasm with which Bishop Hurst's
speech with reference to the proposed Ameri-
lean Methodist University was received in the
Baltimore NJ. z. conference yesterday and the
spontaneity with which the preachers pledged
themselves to the extent Of $3.50 was one Of
the most interesting episodes which has &C.
CURED within the Baltimore conference Of re-
cent years. Bishop Hurst's address was not in
in the nature OF an appeal for money. It was .
simple statement Of the prospects Of the pro-
posed university, during which he announced
that Bishop Newman had given 5000 for the
project before he had had his breakfast.
Presiding Elder Wright of the East Baltimore
district suggested. when the bishop had finished
speaking. that the present would be q good
time for the conference to show its interest in
the university IN substantial way. He would
be pleased, be said, and would feel himself hon.
ored IN being allowed to place his name for
$1,000 next to that of his bishop.
This started the ball to rolling and it sped
along amid the greatest enthusiasm until the
preachers had pledged themselves to pay more
than $4,000 to the university within the next
three years. This is collection which would
be considered remarkable even for rich con-
ference to take. There is no record of col
lection anything like as large having ever been
taken so spontaneously or within SO short q
time.
Bishop Hurst's face glowed with pleasure.
He had not expected anything like it and was
completely surprised. The pledges were made
for shares at SIS each, and when about eight
hundred of these had been secured Bishop New
man said that if the conference would take a
nd off hax all rhtr-
tion OF the morning to be counted as part Of
that made by the conference.
took less than ten minutes to secure pledges
for those two hundred shares. When this had
been done Bishop Hurst turned to his colleague
and said; "Well this takes you in. Biehop."
With just the faintest suggestion of a smile
Bishop Newman dryly replied: ION. well, it
isn't the first time I've been taken in
AsBURY MEMORIAL HALL.
The greater part of the money pledged was
toward the erection of Asbury Memorial Hall,
building which is to cost 500 600 and is to be
erected by contributions from clergymen or by
laymen contributing in preachers names. The
only way in which layman can contribute is
In the name of some preacher. Among the con-
tributions from laymen yesterday was 5000 from
Gen. j. Il. Berry of Baltimore, who gave 900
each for the two bishops present. About $4,000
of the $3.50 given by the conference, exclud-
ing. of course, Bishop Newman's gift, was for
this hall.
Bishop Hurst, in mentioning this building.
said that several clergymen in different parts Of
the country conceived the idea almost stimuli
taneously that at least a thousand OF their
brethren would esteem it a privilege to give
300 each to build a hall. They thought that a
spontaneous gift of 900, 900 from the preachers
would give new impetus to the liberaiity of
the laymen, furnish a fresh proof of the deep
interest of Methodist Episcopal ministers in
such higher education as the American Univer-
slty is intended to provide and be an expression
of their conviction that the further develop
ment Of Christian education in America de-
mands the creation of great Protestant uni
versity.
The name suggested for the building and
adopted was Asbury Memorial Hail. and it was
intended to commemorate in fitting and perma-
nent form the services Of the pioneer Methodist
bishop and founder Of American Methodism
Francis Asbury. 1t is proposed that the hall
shall be built after the general plan Of Christ
Church College, Oxford. England, where John
Wesley was a student. The trustees of the uni
versity In conseuting to the proposal pledged
themselves to provide tablet Of brass, to be
built into the wall of the entrance of the hall,
bearing the names of contributors to the build
ings erection.
The hail will be built" said Bishop Hurst.
"for your action will be heraded through the
115 conferences of the connection and thew will
be stimulated to follow your example. This is
the first conference to which the matter has
been presented. Your action here foreshadows
success elsewhere"
Bishop Hurst in his address said that never
had the necessity for such university as was
proposed been so great, for never before had an
American vatican been planted on the banks OF
the Potomac Never was papal nuncio
threatened at Washington. Protestantism was
now compelled to have a great center in the
United States. He also said that the recent
appropriation bill contained an appropriation
of $4,000 for the extension and grading of
Massachusetts avenue. That. he said was one
Of the dying spasms of common sense of the
present Congress. These spasms have been ex-
ceedingy rare.
THE SUBSCRIBERS.
The subscribers, with amounts subscribed.
are as follows: Bishop John P. Newman, $4,000;
D. II. Carroll, $1,000; ]. 2. Wright, D.. H. Car
roll. L. B. Wilson. L. I. Waterman, E. E. Ship
ley. ]. F. Ockermaa. S. A. Wilson. J. n. Davis,
S. NJ. Hartsock, J. st. Clair Neal, John Lana
han, Richard Norris, o. A. Brown, Richard
Harcourt. J. McKendree Kelley, L. ]. Wagner,
A. S. Hank. G. G.. Markham, C. W. Baldwin.
Geo. H. Corey, Gen. j. $. Berry for Bishop
Newman, Gen. Berry for Bishop Hurst. W. Il.
Stricken, NJ. F. b Rice. II. r. Naylor. Geo Ell
lott. 3. F. Bennett for Z. T. Mowbrav. Lucien
Clark, A. NJ. Courtenay, J. b. Stitt, 500 each;
Thomas Wood. E. A. Gibson, C. H. Richardson,
c: I. Reed, W. D. Morgan, Edward Hayes,
Thomas Wood, $50 each; Solomon German,
$50; c. T. House. G. W. Fellemyer,
E. o. EIdrdge. ". s. Edwards. ". W. Davis.
J. r. Wheeler. J. r. McLain, o. C. Marriott, B.
F. Devries, Osborne Belt, W. A. Carroll, W. L.
Mcdowell, George A. Leech. W. J. Thompson,
E. L. Watson. B. F. GARRISON, j. A. Price, B.
Devries d. A. Carroll, W. H. Laney. Lyttleton
F. Morgan. S25 each; J. Z. Arno. els; r. W.
H. Weech, Daniel Haskell, F. H. Havenner, r.
NJ. West, D. A. Foard, s. s. Greenwell. Henry
Mann, J. r. Shultz, c. o. Cook, c. H. Mytinger,
Thomas Wheeler, Harry D. Mitchell, J. D. Still.
J. 4. Wilhide, W. A. Koontz. E. d. w. Hayes,
W. NJ. Osborne. C. E. Guthrie. D. F. Tshadda.
L. NJ. Bennett. J. NJ: Slarrow. E. D. Huntley (by
friend), J. W. Fleming, F. E. Killman, T. j.
Cross, Elmer Dutton, H. NJ. Thurlow, $40 each;
W. G. Herbert, J. r. gladden., $40 each; j. W.
Cornelius, Friend, C. J. Price, d. H. Cummings,