Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-18
AN OLD TIME METHODIST.


Ex-Governor Fattisnn at Pennsylvania Leo.
lures on the I.ife and Character of Richard
Eassrtt, Of Delaware.
FIX. Gov. Robert T.. Pattison Of Penn
Eylyana delivered ecture before the |
Bible Union of the Methodist Episcopal
Church of the Covenant, Philadelphia,
Sunday afternoon on Tito Life and
Character OF the Hon. Richard Bassett
OF Delaware IL waa the last OF a
series OF lectures on tho different char
aGIeFs representing the early history OF
tho Methodist Episcopal Church in
this country.
BY way OF introduction Mr.. Pattison
referred to Richard Rassett as a lay
man, and said that in him Methodism
had an honored representative OF the
civic government. FIFE was born, said
| the lecturer, in the State of Delaware,
| in the year 1745. At ap early age he
became the adoptsd son of john Law
son, the ownar OF tho old bohemia
Manor. After referencB to the ancestry
OF the Lawson family, showing how
through a and grant they became pos
ssssed of the magnificent estate OF Bo-
hemia Manor, the ex governor went on
to tell that Richard Bassett became q
lawyer and at all early age nRrriei a
ISIS tnnes of Dorchester, and settled
in Dover, Del. His home became a
prominent social centre in ths Penin-
sula.
Methodism at tho time Of the Reyolu
ton Was under the ban. People re.
garded the Methodists as sympathizers
with tho English government. About
these times, while ON journey, Basseut
pad a visit to the plantation OF one
Capt. Thomas White, l. local Judge and
warm personal friend of Bishop As.
bury. Entering the house and noticing
several strangers no inquired who they
were. Upon learning that they were
Methodist ministers he declined to re-
main. However. his prejudiceS were
overcome Remaining over night he
, was SO won over by the learned and
courteous entertainment afforded him
hy Bishop Asbury and tine other divines
present that he gave them an invitation
, to make him visit. This invitation
! resulted in Bassett's conversion &c
MethodiBm. Bishop Ashury realizing
i the worth Of such friend, paid Bias
9 sett visit in the year 1873. The ven
cradle preate received cordial vel
4 come. The Governor of Delaware ant
!. other distinguished pereunages were
a invited to meet him at the Basset
: home, Capt. Thomas White, the Method
z ist upholler was there, too. The occa
/. sion was fraught with incident. Free
II horn GarFettson, an enemy OF IN
r Methndists inrited a mob to collect a
:. Bassett's door and demanded that Whit
I lie handed over 10 the crowd. Basset
y met them with the stern statement tina
!. their object could only be obtained owe
n his dead body, and demanded. wit
| IL thair i,,,r1 atlt a N ri
N sion. The cowardly mob, cowed by hi
> yehemence. withdrew.
N In 1880 Rassett's wife became mem
Il Der OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
a On the other hand. her husband becanl
d perplexed with the noisy Methodists,
as Bassett termed them, that SO fri
e. oueptly made his fashionable HON
pc their place of meeting. This was dur
q ing the year 1854, when Bassett wa
N irving celebrated case ut Lewiston
". He had fully decided, at the conolusio
be of the same, to return to his home, Sc
ii il and move from Dover to get awe
pit from the Methodists. 4 dream durir
he the time changed his mind and lif
,es He dreamed that two hideous dew
a. were standing by his bedside seeking
in lure him away. lie began to earnest
he pray. The devils vanished and Il
it comforting sight of two beautif
CHI angels standing peacefully at his be-
les side met his startled gaze. Simulta
~ ously an aged man of benign Gounte
" ance, leading a beautiful child. car
for into his room. The child rushed in
ere Joyous way toward the bedside. Ba
ay sett awoke and bethought an allegorie
} Significance at the dreRm-the dew
rnss sin; the angels, comfort; the old ma
81 o. faith; the child, an offer of new Il
ble and spirit.
ks The Methodist Episcopal Chur
She from that time on had no strong
it'll friend and ally than Richard Basse
ro- His second marriage had for its iss
Tse one child daughter. She became
N Se wifu OF James I}ayard, direct ancest
I? IN of the present Thomas +. Bayard, {
get Ambassador to the Court of St Jam
cry A distinguished career was Bassett
len In 1888 ho was member OF the CT
10 gress of Confederation that framed
me- Constitution. From 1889 to 1901 fou
i,e him United States Senator Of Delawa
TOO from the latter OATS TO 1883, On
Justice of his native State. and fl
the 1898 to 1901 Governor of the sar
her Thence to the time of his death,
pre- 1915, he was judge of the District Co
ice OF Delaware. His body reposes on
~ 1,rn hanks OF the Bohemia River Of
too Bohemia Manor, whese he establish
,nly a campmeeting ground.