Smyrna times., 1898-03-23
JUDGE LORE ON METHODISM.
He Tells the Philadelphia Conference at
Chester of its Birth and Growth.


Chief Justice Lore delivered an ad-
dress before the Philadelphia Confer
ence at Chester, Tuesday night of last
week. In his Introductory remarks
he asserted that Methodism was one of
most potent factors in the develop
ment of civilization, in promoting
which God always uses the best
instruments which are forthcom-
ing when his purposes require them.
MethOdism or Weslyism, came into ex-
lstence at about the period of the Rev
olutionary war. He claimed that war
unsettled the moral condition and in
the attention given to the fighting free
thinking succeeds religious inclina-
tions. This was one of the conditions
attendant on the war of the revolution,
which was followed by a scattering of
the people over much larger portion
of the country than they had previous
ly occupied. What better remedy
then, could be devised for the existing
evil than the itineracy that sent preach
ers bearing the gospel to all parts.
On the frontier and at the edge of
civilization the circuit rider was found.
as well as in the previously settled
parts near the coasts laying the gospel
at every hearthstone so that every man,
women and child could enjoy its
peace.
He called attention to the multitude
of MethOdists originating from this
source and asked if they could not see
the hand of God in procuring this re-
suit with the spread of Methodism, lib
erty and enlightment advanced These
facts are of historical interest and
the church history should be carefully
preserved. The Philadelphia confer
ence was the first organized and the
preservation of its history, therefore,
most essential.
He gave some interesting informa-
ton about st. Georges Church, in
Philadelphia, the oldest church in
America, where Francis Asbury, the
the first Methodist bishop, and other
fathers of the church preached with
such effective results. Here the first
conference war organized, and al
though the Newark, Central, Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware and portions of the
Genessee, had been taken from it, it
was still as big as ever spiritually and
effectively
Speaking of Delaware he said, we
consider it the Lords land, the most
delightful spot ON this green earth ex-
cept yours and in the heart of that
section was the very nursery of Meth
odism. III tell you why John Wesley
clung to the Episcopal Church until
he was driven out. We were not
distinct organization previous to
the war of the revolution. When the
war began the English pastors left
their focks and returned to England.
Then Asbury lOomed up and assumed
the leadership of the fiocks.
Wesley ordained Thomas Coke in
England and he came to America, pro
ceeded to Delaware at Barrett S church,
near Frederica, he and Asbury first
met, in November, 1884. Out from
that church flowed the stream of Meth
odism. There they devised the plan
of the Methodist Church, which was
taken to Baltimore and approved.
What a great monument those two
men built for themselves. That Meth
odism was SO firmly implanted in the
peninsula that of its 5000 inhabi-
tants nearly one-half are Methodists
and the rest are kind of half way Meth
odists. From down where the oysters
are biggest came John Emory, Bishop
Levi Scott and Bishop Hurst, all eff
fective workers in the church.