Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-06-28
DIR. BILsoN AND HIS CHURCH.
what New York Paper Says About =
Former Delaware Preacher.

WnaJ u new 1ork Phper says ABOUT =
Former Delaware Preacher.
In an article entitled "The Growth of
Methodisnl," published June 23d, the
New York Commercial Advertiser de-
voted column and half to Eighteenth
Street Methodist Episcopal Church and
its pastor, the Rev. John A. B. Wilson,
ID. d. The article was accompanied by
pictures of the church and its pastor. 1t
said in part:
The present pastor, Rev. John Alfred
Baynum Wilson, is in every sense one
of the leading spirits in the field of re-
ligious work of the day. His work is
done in manner that makes its intlu-
ence felt throughout the entire city. DIR.
Wilson came of English, North of
ireland and Welsh stock that more than
200 years ago settled in Sussex county,
Del, In which county eight generations
of his ancestors lie buried. His father
was a mariner, and his early life was
spent with his father at sea. His highest
ambition was to command vessel at 81,
and no doubt this would have been done
had he remained at sea. He escaped
this, however, and being an un-
usually studious lad he devoured all
the books that came in his, way.
Being of religious character, they
turned his mind to the desire for preach
ing. In 1868, when 20 years of age,
having been converted and passed his
period of probation, he was licensed to
preach. Immediately afterward he was
sent to the Sharptown circuit as junior
preacher. His next field of labor was
Millsboro. In 1871 he was ordained
deacon. In 1875 he was sent to Boston.
In 1880, 'S1 and '82 he was in Far
mount, Nd, and at the close of his
pastorate was made presiding elder of
the Salisbury district, where he won
great renown. During his term in this
district he was made ID. ID. From that
time to 1892, when he was appointed to
the charge of the Eighteenth Street
Church, he filled many pastorates, as is
the custom in the Methodist denomina-
tion, and was remarkably successful in
bringing converts to the faith and filling
churches where he preached.
DR.. Wilson is not only pastor of his
church, but he is missionary in an un-
limited field. He works night and day,
summer and winter, for the good of the
poor, often walking the streets all night,
going into the vilest districts, and with
his own hands providing the hungry
with food and offering soiace to the sick
and despondent. No one ever goes
away from the door of his house with
out the comfort of cheering word or
the help most needed. DR.. Wilson is up
to date in everything that tends to ad-
vance the conditions of women. He is
heartily in favor of woman suffrage.
He is liberal in his views on all sub
jects, believes in the education of the
masses, and fights the rumsellers and
the granting of licenses.
He has established home for respect
able, self-supporting girls in his parish,
where for the small sum of $3.50 week
they are given the best OF care and feel
independent in that they are paying
something for their board. DIR. Wilson
has truly said there are plenty of free
homes established in New York for
fallen women, but none for that large
class of self-respecting young women
who desire all sympathy and help in
that they are willing to work, and yet
often unable for months at a time to
obtain employment, and when they do
frequently their pay is SO small that they
can scarcely afford to'live anywhere.
In DR.. Wilson's church all are made
welcome, not by big printed poster, but
by the pastor himself. Hc stands at the
door TO greet strangers as they enter,
and he asks them to come again when
the service is ended. All seats are free,
and the congregations always SO large
that people have to go early to get seats.