The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-17
JUDGE LORE ON METHODISM.
Tic Tells the Philadelphia Conference at
Chester of Its Birth and CIR owth.

Chief Justice Lore delivered an address
before the Philadelphia Conference at Ches
ter, Tuesday night. III his introductory
remarks he asserted that Methodism was
one of the most potent factors in the de-
yeiopment of civilization, in promoting
which God always uses tho best instru-
ments which are forthcoming when his
purposes require them Methodism, or
Wcsleyanism, came into existence at about
the period OF the revolutionary war. He
claimed that war unsottlcs the moral CON
dltion and In tho attention given to the
lighting free thinking succeeds religious
iDclinations This wn5 one of the condi-
tions attendant on the war OF the revolu-
ton, which was followed by scattering
OF Tho people over a much larger portion
Of the country than they had previously oc.
cuptci. What better remedy thon, could
bt d,viscd for the existing evil than the
itneracy That sont preachers bearing the
ospol to all paris.
On the frontier and at the edge of civil
fzuliOn the circuit rider was found, as well
as IN the previously settled parts near tho
coast, laying the gospel at every hearth
stone so that every man, woman and child
could enjoy its peace.
Ee called attention to the mul itude Of
Mothodists originating ffom this source
and asked If they could not see the hand OF
God In procuring this result with the
spread Of Me,hodism. liberty and enlight
enment advanced. These facts are OF his
torical interest and therefore the church
history should be carefully preserved. The
Philadelphia conference was the first
organized and the preservation Of Its his.
tory, therefore, most essential.
He gave some Interesting information
about St. Georges Church, in Philadel-
phia, the eldest church in America,
where Francis Asbury, the first Methodist
bishop,sand other fathers of the church
preached with such effective results. Hero
the first conference was organiZod. and al.
though the Newark, Central. Pennsyl-
yania, Delaware and portions of the GEN.
essee, had been taken from it, 1t was still
as big as ever spiritually and effectively.
Speaking Of Delaware he said, we con-
slider it the Lords land, the most delight.
full spot on this green earth except yours
and in tho heart of hat section was the
very nursery of Met hodism. I'll tell you
why John Wesley clung to tho Episcopal
Church until he was drivon out. We
were not u distinct organization previous
to the war Of the revolution. When the
war began tho English pastors left their
flocks and returned to England. Then
Asbury loomed up and assumed the lead
eiship of the tlocks.
Wesley ordained Thomas Coke in Eng
land and ho came to America, proceeded
to Delaware ana at Barrctt's Church, near
Frederick, he and Asbury first met in No
vembor, l7SI. Out from that church flow
cd the stream of Mcthodism. There they
devised tho plan of the Methodist Ch urch,
which was tnkon to Baltimore and approv-
ed. What n great monument those two
mon built for themselves. That Metho-
dism was 50 firmly implanted in the penin-
sula that of its 50O0)0 inhabitants noarly
ope-half are Methodists and the rest ara
kind of halfway Methodists. From down
where the oysters arc biggest came John
Emory, Bishop Levi Scott and Bishop
Hurst, all effective workers in the church.
Father Thomas another son of the Pc
ninsua lwho welded n potent influence
among tho rough hammered, but warm
hearted watermen would be popular with
ladies were he yet living; how he urged all
mon to mary young, believing they wers
thus fitted TO, becoming better examples
for. go,t. For the Peninsula the Metho.
dist Church has done more good than all
other don ominatinns and throughout the
country it has done more to build up. We
are together and perpatuate the govern.
ment more than all other churches.
The Justice was warmly applauded at
the conclusion of his address and later
was made Il life member of the Historical
Society, tho membership fec being paid
from subscription taken for the pur-
DO5e,