Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-10-30
LAYING CORNER STONE.
INTERESTING AND IMPRESSIVE
CEREMONIES.
Interesting sketch of the Beginning of the
Wesley Chapel COngregation-Its
Growth a. d Usefulness


known rs First Church, opposed the
pew proposition, and not being able TO
prevent il. withdrew their membership
Their certificates, dating December 10th,
1868, and with the suggestion of the late
Josiah Russell held Il prayer-meetiiig IN
the parl0r of John w. Robinson, when
JOS. s M. Basil. Nelson Basil, Jos. Rus
sell, Jesse Russell, John Wayson. Thos.
Parkinson, Daniel Medford, Meredith
Dawes, William Dadds and aleb Stew
art, with many others Joined them on a
Sabbath morning and night. SO here,
really began in "A prayer-meesing the con-
gregation, soon after called the "second
charge.
The following week, Jos. S. M. Basil
conferred with the Presiding Elder, Rev.
DIR. N. j. B. Morgan, who appointed the
Rev. Henry NJ. Harmon to supply the
work until Conference, which he did very
successfully. He first preached in the
parlur of Mr.. John w. Robinson from
the text, lisa. 35: $40. The other services
were held in the City Hall. AtConfer-
ence, Rev. Harrison McNemar was sent
and was very successful in adding TO the
church in his three year s pastorate. He
was followed by Rev. {. Z. CrOnin, for
one year. Then Rev. j. III. Swope came
and started the new church, called Wes-
lev Chapel. which WIS dedicated during
the pastorate of j. j. Sargent, by Rev.
DIR. John ). Inskipand Rev. w. II. Chap
man, duriag the time when DIR. w. b.
Edwards was serving his first past0rate
in Salem NJ. 4. Church. The next pas
tor was Rev VIM. ii Laney, who, dur
ing this year. has passed To his reward.
The pastors following weIe Reys. j. ii.
NJ. Lemon, L. A. Morgan, G.. ". Hyde,
VIM. G. Herbert, Samuel shannon and
Watson Case.
The first class leaders were Josiah Rus
sell and William Dddds. The first record
ing steward was JOS. 5. NJ. Basil, and he
is the present recording steward. The
first quarterly conference was held June
10th. 1864. The first Sunday School SUI
perintendent WAS Nelson Basil. who has
been elected every year since, and is "A
good man for the pastor to he yoked
with.
Rev. john Edwards, the present pas
tor, coming in March, 1894. saw the need
of new church soon after his arrival
and stated his convictions privately and
publicly and although the financial strin-
gency has been felt with his people as
elsewhere, they have happily followed his
lead. The Mite Society undertook an
old debt of $3.50 OH the parsonage little
over year since and have paid it all.
The EastpOrt Mission of the church the
pastor has incorporated. which corporate
body has bought very fine lot for a new
church i'm the near future. He also took
up new work at Parole, incorporated
a society and built new church there,
known as Edwards Chapel, to he dedi-
Gated November 24th.
To supersede Wesley Chapel, to-day
the cornerstone of Maryland Avenue
Methodist Episcopal Church, or the cor
ner of Maryland ave. and Prince George
street, which lot has cost the people
$5 900, has been laid. The building, of
gothic style, fronting both Maryland
avenue aud Prince George street, will
present a fine appearance with its tower
Of one hundred feet, trimmings and me-
mortal windows in the main audieEce-
room, and its lecture and three class
rooms below. It's convenience is the
peculiar feature that the pastor has urged
for all purposes and especially for the
children and youths of the infaD. classes
of Sunday School and Junior EpwOrth
League, in which, with his very helpful
daughter, Miss Bessie, he takes great in
terest and for which he has great hope.
Mr.. Lewis Gardiner, of this city, has
the contract for building the church, =
excepting the tower, plumbing, heating,
furnishing the memorial windows, fin
ishing the man audience room and its
furnishings-for $l3, ,S64.00. This is truly
agreat undertaking for this people, ,shew-
ing their great faith, pluck and liberali-
ty. They bad, before to-day, about $ll,-
600 provided for, and aside fIOm the pas
tors convictions, faith and steadfast
work, the chief inspiration has come
from, and is due to, the liberality and
faith of Jos. S. III. Basil. He has set his
heart to the doing of this work with
donation of $4,000, and will give as need
ed and as the Lord has prOspered him,
and many more are following with their
hearts as large, though their purses are
smaller.
A very solid foundation has been laid,
which, with the joist of North Carolina
pine for the floors, bespeak durability
church for the future "a home thirty
and fifty years hence, for the little ones,
who now crowd the pastor in the Jun
i0r Epw0rth League and Sunday School.
The services of to-day were in charge of
the Presiding Elder, of the Baltimore
District, Rev. w. M. Ferguson. The
singing was conducted happily by the
combined choirs of Wesley Chapel and
the First III. Z. Churches, Mr.. w. r.
Edwards, of Baltimore, son of the pas
tor, playing the organ. Rev. DIR. w. l..
Mcdowell opened with prayer. The
pastor made the necessary statements.
concerning the distributed envelopes and
cards for the cornerstone, with its con-
tents and heartily thanked all present
for The kind interest manifested by their
presence, through which, his faith and
that of his people. is strengthened IN the
successful issue of this much-needed pro-
iect. Rev. j. Fred. Hiesse. editor Of the
Baltimore Methodist, made an instTuc-
tive and eloquent address. Then follow
ed the impressive services Of the Masonic
Fraternity, which was a beautiful fea-
ture of the occasion and called out a
large number of our citizens. as inter-
ested witnesses. The pastor had enyel-
Opes and cards for each guest, solicit
ing the autograph of each for the corner
stone, and an offering to assist the build
ing Of this beautiful temple Of the Lord.
The trustees of the new church are the
same as of the old, Jos. S. M. Basil, Sam
uel w Brooks, David O. Parlett. Benja-
min S. Russell. J. r. r. Phillips, George
w. Moss, Daniel Medf0rd. William T..
Feldmeyer and Daniel p. Thompson.
The benedictiOn was given by the pastor,
Rev John Edwards, and the ceremonies
for the day closed.